How did the Boxer disaster increase anti-Qing feeling in China?

The "Boxer disaster"—referring to the failed Boxer Rebellion and the subsequent Boxer Protocol—significantly accelerated anti-Qing sentiment by shattering the remaining prestige of the imperial government.12

The rebellion, which the Qing court eventually supported in a desperate attempt to expel foreigners, ended in military defeat and the occupation of Beijing by foreign powers. The resulting 1901 settlement imposed a massive indemnity of 450 million taels and allowed foreign troops to be stationed between the capital and the sea, effectively rendering China’s independence a fiction.324

Following this humiliation, the Qing government’s attempts at reform—such as abolishing the civil service examination and establishing modern schools—failed to restore its authority. Instead, these measures were viewed as insufficient, further fueling anti-Manchu feelings and strengthening the revolutionary tide. This environment allowed revolutionary leaders like Sun Yat-sen to gain greater influence among a growing class of young intellectuals and students who increasingly sought to overthrow the dynasty in favor of a new political order.1