The Boxers do not deserve a bad reputation. The Boxers was an organization that wanted to protect Chinese culture and tradition and prevented foreign countries’ influence on China. They were furious about the idea that foreign countries were interfering with their nation, and their goal was to end all foreign influences in China. According to Walter Lefeber, a Cornell University Professor, American and foreign missionaries not only preached their religion but also sold their goods and products in an attempt to westernize the local Chinese. “American Missionaries were able to get into interior provinces of China [and] opened these provinces up to American business people.” (Lefeber) It is evident that the missionaries were slowly bringing more foreigners into the nation itself. The Boxers drove the missionaries away because they saw that the foreigners were threatening to alter and affect Chinese traditions and were taking control over Chinese lifestyles. In addition, “The Boxers also viewed Christianity as a threat to their traditional Buddhist and Confucian beliefs.” (Supporting Question 2.5) This piece of evidence shows why the boxers turned violent towards the foreigners and Chinese converts. Moreover, “Those villagers who had converted to Christianity, however, refused to participate in the rituals. Their neighbors suspected that this was the reason the gods disregarded their pleas for rain.” (Supporting Question 2.5) Although it was pure superstition, but the Boxers believed that the drought that lasted two years in Shandong was caused by the gods who were displeased by the Christians. The Christians refused to follow the rituals, for example, praying for rain. They believed that the Christians angered the gods which the entire province of Shandong have been punished with drought. When the foreign countries continued to force themselves onto China by invading and spreading their own culture, it was reasonable that the Boxers would fight back. In conclusion, the Boxers did not deserve a bad reputation because they wanted to protect and preserve the Chinese tradition and culture.