After the defeat of the Qing-backed Boxer Rebellion, the Qing government was finally forced to begin implementing reforms, in order to attempt to keep the dynasty in power. It was during this period that young Chinese radicals first became attracted to anarchism, inspired by the Russian nihilist movement to begin a revolutionary struggle for the overthrow of Qing rule. A number of anti-Qing uprisings followed in their wake, but these were ultimately unsuccessful.
