It was not just a single event, but it was the series of events and defeats over the period

of time that led the fall of Qing dynasty. During mid-nineteenth century foreign and domestic crisis resulted in financial meltdown of Qing dynasty. Great Britons unbalanced trade with China, forced them to smuggle opium into China, later which resulted into Opium war, in which defeated China forced to accept Treaty of Nanjing and later several other agreements which made China so weak that government revenue was 10 percent of what they were spending. On domestic front after Opium war, China saw several violent rebellions such as Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864), Muslim rebellions in southwest and northwest China, and other rebellions in different areas of china which further weaken the Qing dynasty (Joseph pp3945). After suppressing the major rebellions, financially weak center government started rebuilding work, due to centers weakness, local leadership become more powerful brought back age old center and local government tension, not to mention China lost control of significant tributary states during this time. It was the humiliating defeat from Japan that was major shock to China. This war not only humiliated the China, but also caused foreign interventions. During this period Empress Dowgar Cixi ruled the China. Empress Cixis decision to ally with Boxers and declaring was with western powers, costed China a lot. China lost the war and Qing court signed Boxer Protocol with humiliating provisions, the worst was indemnity that China has to pay. By this time China was totally weak which gave birth to 1911 revolution which marked the end of Qing dynasty.