Boxer Rebellion (China : 1899-1901)

Uncle Sam sits at a table with 10 figures, three of which are unidentified, the others showing the attributes of the rulers of Russia (Nicholas II), England (Edward VII), Germany (William II), Japan (Meiji, Emperor of Japan), Italy (Victor Emmanuel III), Austria (Franz Joseph I), and France (Emile Loubet), representing the eight nation alliance. A large tray of fruit labeled “Chinese Indemnity” is on the table. Hanging above the table by a thin string is an enormous sword labeled “Awakening of China.”

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Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-09-04

The Russian bear, wearing a military uniform and with sword drawn, stands on one side of a ditch. Facing the bear on the other side of the ditch are various rulers, including “Japan,” “Germany,” “France,” “Italy,” and “Austria,” as well as John Bull representing “England” and Uncle Sam, standing, holding rifles with fixed bayonets. Behind them sits a man labeled “China,” laughing.

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Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-04-24

The rulers of “Russia,” “Germany,” “Italy,” “Austria,” “France,” and “England” are chickens trying to hatch a large egg labeled “China.” A chicken labeled “Japan” stands in the background with Uncle Sam, also as a chicken, perched on a fence in the rear.

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Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-04-06

The emperors of Russia, Japan, and Germany, and the king of Great Britain each hold a balance scale, and all but “Japan” hold a paper that states their country’s “claim for indemnity.” They are confronting a kneeling, shocked Chinese man labeled “China.” In the background, on the right, Puck is handing a cap and gown to Uncle Sam, suggesting that he play the role of “Portia” and outwit the “Shylocks.” Caption: Puck (to Uncle Sam). — That poor fellow needs a Portia. Why don’t you take the part?

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Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-03-27

Uncle Sam holds a lantern labeled “Prudence” in one hand and holds onto John Bull with the other, leading Austria, Japan, France, and Germany through a field of traps labeled “Casus Belli” in China during the Boxer Rebellion.

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Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-02-06

Confucius and Jesus Christ stand together on a cloud atop a mountain looking down at the confrontation between the Boxers and the forces of the eight nation alliance during the Boxer Rebellion in China. The Boxers carry a banner with a quote from Confucius and the international alliance carries a banner with a quote from Jesus Christ, both expressing the same concept.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-10-03

A female figure labeled “Civilization,” wearing a breastplate and helmet and holding a spear, stands before a Chinese emperor on a throne, while in the background, a dragon labeled “Boxer” and billowing clouds of smoke labeled “Anarchy,” “Murder,” and “Riot” are seen over the city wall and the international Legation Quarter. Caption: Civilization (to China). — That dragon must be killed before our troubles can be adjusted. If you don’t do it I shall have to.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-08-08

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

Uncle Sam and John Bull stand with six figures showing the attributes of the rulers of Russia (Nicholas II), Germany (William II), Japan (Meiji, Emperor of Japan), Italy (Umberto I), Austria (Franz Joseph I), and France (Emile Loubet), representing the eight nation alliance. They look up at a mountain labeled “Chinese Question” topped with the face of an angry Chinese person.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-07-25

President Roosevelt is intrigued by Indiscreet Letters from Peking, which deals with the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. He would like to meet its author.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The statement of John E. Wilkie that Secretary of the Treasury Shaw forwarded to President Roosevelt is interesting, but the fundamental problem as Roosevelt sees it is that the United States has acted poorly towards Chinese immigrants. Other nations, including England and Germany, are taking advantage of this anti-American sentiment in China. Roosevelt believes the nation is now fixing this treatment and is entering upon the correct course of action.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt extends his warmest wishes to his comrades who saw service in the Spanish-American War, Philippine insurrection and Boxer uprising in China. Unfortunately, he is unable to attend the event but has relayed the information to Colonel Curtis Guild.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Roger Sprague writes to Theodore Roosevelt, as he recently returned from teaching in China. Sprague would like to meet with Roosevelt, both to make his acquaintance and to share some of the changes that are taking place in Chinese society. He refers Roosevelt to Professor S. B. Christy of the University of California, who can vouch for his character.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-26

Creator(s)

Sprague, Roger, 1869-1933

Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Secretary of State Root records an interview he conducted with Special Envoy Tang Shaoyi of China. Much of what was discussed involved the indemnity payments that China had been forced to pay following the Boxer Rebellion, and the return of these payments by the United States to China to be used for educational purposes. Additional subjects include adjustments to the tariff, the situation in Manchuria, and the Chinese Eastern Railway.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Creator(s)

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructs its ambassador to the United States, Cheng Liang, to thank President Roosevelt for forgiving part of the Boxer indemnity that China owed the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-24

Creator(s)

China. Wai wu bu

Ambassador Meyer is reporting to President Roosevelt the state of affairs in Russia after having found St. Petersburg quiet. Meyer traveled throughout Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine. The letter examines the situations in many different cities and other topics including removing Jews from Russia, revolution and revolutionaries’ tactics, a pheasant shoot, military escorts, history, travel, and Russian construction quality.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-28

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Ambassador Rockhill will be delighted to host Alice Roosevelt in Peking, China, and will do everything possible to make her and Mabel Boardman’s visit a comfortable one. Rockhill denies reports that he was unfriendly to American missionaries, and he also responds to Roosevelt’s fears that an overwhelming Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War might upset the balance of power in the East. Rockhill notes that Japan has a strong influence on China, but he considers it unlikely that the Chinese will become “mere followers” of Japan as they have become strong believers in “China for the Chinese.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-07

Creator(s)

Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914

Assistant Secretary of State Adee informes President Roosevelt that the current Spanish Minister, Emilio de Ojeda, has confirmed that he will be replaced by Bernardo Jacinto de Cólogan. Adee mentions Cólogan is well known to to the United States due to his work during the Boxer Rebellion. Ojeda hopes the new minister is agreeable to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-18

Creator(s)

Adee, Alvey A. (Alvey Augustus), 1842-1924

Report, prepared under the direction of Secretary of War Taft for President Roosevelt, detailing the policies and administration of the War Department since 1897. The report reviews the growth of the department as a result of the Spanish-American War and argues that the War Department has become essential to the executive office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-18

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Nicholas Williams McIvor forwards a memo sent to Baron Kaneko regarding permission to erect a trust in Japan. McIvor goes on to discuss world politics at length.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-12

Creator(s)

McIvor, Nicholas Williams, 1860-1915