The Opium War was a direct motivation for the Boxers. In the late 1700s, China was a major economic power. They produced good like tea, porcelain, and silk that Europeans fervently desired. However, China was self-sufficient and Europe had nothing of interest for trade. Therefore, China was largely isolationist, trading only with the Dutch. In retaliation, England began trading opium, which many Chinese quickly became addicted to. China was decimated by opium, as people abandoned their work and…
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