August 14, 1900: China

After dividing up Africa among European Powers at the Berlin Conference (1894-5), European powers and America began to scramble for what was called "spheres of interest." These spheres of interest involved holding leases for all railway and commercial privileges in various regions. The Russians got Port Arthur, the British got the New Territories around Hong Kong, the Germans got a leasehold in Shantung, and the Americans got nothing. However, when thousands of people known as Boxers traveled the countryside killing foreigners and eventually occupying Beijing, a coalition of international forces came in on August 14, 1900 and crushed the rebellion. The United States played a significant role because of the many American ships and troops in the Philippines as a result of the Philippine-American War. Because it had participated in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion, the U.S. participated in the aftermath. Secretary of State John Hay called for an expanded "Open Door" policy in all parts of China. Other powers agreed, and the Open Door policy allowed foreign access to China's market until World War II closed it once again.

Clearly an act of imperialism, or clearly not?