1. U.S. Imperialism ~ China
America’s approach for imperializing China was different than the ways in which Japan, Russia, and Europe chose to imperialize. After the Sino-Japanese war (China v. Japan), the five world powers (France, Britain, Germany, Japan, Russia) tried to colonize China. Even though China didn't like outsiders, outsiders really liked China. People in Europe went crazy for Chinese products like silk, porcelain, and tea.  The Chinese did not want the European powers in their country because they used military power to destroy their land and forced the Chinese to sell their property and grant trading rights.
Instead of participating in the colonization of China, the United States used foreign policy, diplomacy, and faith to gain a foothold in China. The U.S. chose to imperialize through trade and religion, rather than military force.
Spheres of Influence
The European powers carved up China into different areas or territories, where the European powers maintained political and economic control over the Chinese.
Much like traditional colonies, the separate Chinese territories, or spheres of influence, were designed to serve the interests of the European nations that controlled them.
Open Door Policy
The Chinese Government was unable to prevent European and Japanese imperialists from carving spheres of influence out of its country. President McKinley was concerned about the potential threat to American interests in China because of the European power & land grab.
Nonetheless, he resisted forming a colony in China.
In September 1899, Secretary of State John Hay introduced the “Open Door Policy”. Hay sent a note to each of the powers that had acquired spheres of influence in China; he asked that they not discriminate against the trade of other countries (to keep the door open), and not interfere with the Customs Service collection of tariff duties [tax collection]. If they agreed, the goods of all nations would be guaranteed equal treatment in all parts of China, and the Customs Service would be able to provide the Chinese government with the revenue [money] it needed to function. 
Although the Open Door Policy served American interests, the imperialist powers in China saw little benefit for themselves in agreeing to a policy that would limit their control. The United States offered them nothing in return. On the other hand, the Americans were not challenging the existence of their spheres of influence or interests they considered vital [essential].
The Boxer Rebellion
Many Chinese resented foreign influences in their country. They organized a secret society to combat the foreigners called the Righteous and Harmonious Fists. Europeans referred to them as “Boxers” because they performed ceremonial exercises that resembled boxing.

2. What Do YOU See? Can you identify anyone in the
In 1900, the Boxer movement spread to the Beijing area, where the Boxers killed Chinese Christians, Christian missionaries, and destroyed churches, railroad stations, and other property. On June 20, 1900, the Boxer revolt took over a section of Beijing where most of the foreigners lived. The following day, Qing Empress Dowager declared a war on all foreign nations with diplomatic ties in China.
As the Western powers and Japan organized a multinational force to crush the rebellion, the revolt stretched into weeks, and the diplomats, their families and guards suffered through hunger and degrading conditions as they fought off the Boxers. Some estimate that several hundred foreigners and several thousand Chinese Christians were killed during the revolt. On August 14, after fighting through northern China, an international force of about 20,000 troops from eight nations (Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain and the U.S.) arrived to retake Beijing, and rescue the foreigners and Chinese Christians.
A French cartoon from 1898 showing Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nicolas II, the French Marianne, and the Emperor of Japan.
After the Boxer Rebellion, a second Open Door Policy was established to ensure the U.S.’s ability to continue trading with China, and to prevent China from being divided up into separate pieces.
What Do YOU See? Can you identify anyone in the
cartoon? Who? Try to label them.
Historical Context: What is the event or issue represented by the cartoon? When? Where?
Based on the illustration, what was the artist’s perspective on the topic? Explain.
Movie Clip:
What was the argument against Hay's Open Door Policy?
When did China & 11 other nations sign the Boxer Protocol that ended the rebellion?