Final answer:
The Boxer Rebellion was a violent insurrection in China motivated by a desire to eliminate foreign influence and Western presence, led by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attempt by Chinese nationalist groups to destroy the influence of Westerners in China is known as the Boxer Rebellion. The rebellion was a response to the growing resentment among the Chinese people towards the increasing control and exploitation by foreign powers and the social upheaval caused by their presence. The Boxer Rebellion emerged from strong anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-missionary feelings. Particularly, the influence of Protestant and Catholic missionaries, who interfered with Chinese customs like ancestral veneration, was deeply resented. This resentment was further fuelled by economic disruptions and the perceived arrogance of foreigners, who were immune to Chinese law.
By 1900, the Boxer Rebellion had spiraled into a violent uprising, with the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists—known as the Boxers—leading attacks against foreigners and Chinese Christians. They sought to expel these foreign influences, which they saw as corrupting and weakening China. The Qing Dynasty, which was already weakened by internal strife and external pressures, faced an additional crisis with this uprising. The rebellion was eventually suppressed by a multinational force from Europe, Japan, and the United States.