britain and egypt Flashcards
what years were Britain involved in Egypt
1857-1890
what empire was egypt part of from 1517
ottoman empire - turkish
why was the turkish ruling class resented
they kicked all of the arab people out of high paying jobs and took them for themselves, took normal jobs aswell
which cash crop did muhammed ali bring into egypt which the profits from it he used to modernise egypt
cotton
what years were ismail pasha in charge
1963-79
what year did:
- the suez canal open
- britain buy shares of canal
- the cave report
- dual control
- the end of ismail
- 1869
- 1875
- 1876
- 1876
- 1879
whats the definition of infrastructure
building things within the country
why did the demand for cotton fall
after the civil war in america they took back over the cotton trade
what were the consequences of the demand for cotton falling
there wasn’t much money going into egypt so they took out bank loans from briatin so they could support the country
why was britain involved in egypt (3)
- they wanted to maintain the ottoman empire and keep a secure balance of power
- it was strategically placed
- protect loans and investments
what are the two definitions of nationalism
- feelings of affection and pride that people have for their country
- the desire for political independence in a country that is controlled by or part of anouther country
what 3 factors made Britain change their influence in egypt
- egypts role as part of the collapsing ottoman empire
- suez canal and its significance for britain to india
- the investments of european financers in egypt
how did mohammed ali manage to gain power in egypt
the napoleonic campaign of 1798-99 caused a change of government in egypt and it established the french, but albanian muhammed ai was able to seize power
how did mohammed ali try to modernise egypt
made use of french experts, military, agricultre and education
why had egypt been strategic to britain before the suez canal was built
since the 1840s when the overland route was used to go from egypt to india
why didn’t the british like the suez canal being built
they didn’t want the canal to be controlled by an enemy (harder to get to india)
in 1882 how much of the traffic tonnage from the suez canal was british
80%
how did britain feel about egypt in the beginning
they didn’t want to be in control or have egypt
what decisions did Said take that were important to the future of egypt
- he gave ferdinand de lesseps permission to build the suez canal on terms very unfavourable to egypt
who built the suez canal
ferdinand de lesseps
how much was the loan that said had raised before he died
over £3 million
how much did ismail increase egypts debt by
from £3 million to £100 million
why didn’t the egyptian public like ismail (3)
- he put the country into huge debt
- he wasn’t egyptian (albanian)
- gave the west a huge influence in egypt (they were economically dependent on them)
how did ismail try to turn egypt into a modern country (4)
- altered the islamic law of succession
- exports boomed
- cultivable area of egypt increased by 1/3
- over 1000 miles of railways were built
how did ismail increase egypts debt
by trying to modernise egypt and change things within egypt, but they didn’t have the money to be able to do this
how much did the british interest rates change by
from 7% to 20%
by 1875 how much money did the egyptian government owe britain / europe
over £46 million
what year did egypt go bankrupt
1875
what percentage of shares did egypt give to britain
45%
what was the report made by britain about the economic situation in egypt called
the cave report
what did the cave report say
blames egypt bankruptcy on financial mismanagment and argues that european control of the economy could fix the situation
why did britain introduce dual control
because they wanted to protect their investments and bank loans
what was the outcome of dual control (2)
- it had high success
- britain put their loans before the people and situation within egypt
what was a consequence of britain being in control of egypts finances
because britain put their loans before the lives of people in egypt living standards were decreasing as tax and prices were raised but wages were lowered. the army wasn’t happy because their pay had been cut
what was the first army mutiny of 1879
it got rid of the european influence within egypt (financially)
how and when did ismail get removed from power
june 1879 - ismail was removed by the sultan who had been pressured by the germans
who was khedive after ismail
his son tewfik
what did the joint note say
britain would protect the khedive from anyone who might disturb the peace
what happened on the 18th of february 1879
rivers wilson and his french counter part were attacked by officers in the egyptian army, army officers protested the severe pay cuts to ismail. ismail was fed up with people thinking he had no real power so in april he fired wilson and his french couter part (got rid of dual control) , which led to the germans pressuring the sultan to get rid of ismail
who took over power in egypt after ismail
his son tewfik
what years were the significant investments from european banks into egypt
1863-79
what date was the army revolt
18th february 1879
why did britain fear the collapse of the ottoman empire
if it collapsed britains greatest rival russia would take ottoman territory which would strengthen russia, destroy the balence of power and make war more likely
what was installed as part of dual control
a european debt commission (the caisse de la dette) is established by ismail under pressure from european investors, the commission was used to ensure the debt was paid back (priority)
what are the 3 key points of the army revolt of 1879
- led by arabi pasha
- argued over pay cuts and wage arrears
- army detest egypt becoming a puppet state
what did the malet report of 1881 say
the egyptian government were increasing military spending which worried britain and france as it was a danger to european lives in egypt
when did the ottoman empire recognise ismail as khedive and install hereditary power
1867
how did britain and france respond to the malet report
sent a small fleet of warships to alexandria to help evacuate the refugees if there was a violent outbreak
what happened during the mob riot in alexandria june 1882 (4)
- 50 europeans killed
- fortifications built by the egyptian military
- france dont want to use force and go to port Said
- british gov think riot was arabi and the nationalists fault
what was britains response to the mob riot 1882
use british fleet to bombard fortifications that were being built
what happens after the british fleet bombard the fortifications
arabis army camp outside of alexandria and cut off water supply to the town, the suez canal is in danger so gladstone (PM) commits to intervention
how did the british decide to intervene after arabis army cut off water supply
encourage france and italy to give them support but they both say no, so britain gets militarily involved anyway
why did the battle of tel el kabir happen and how does it link to arabi pasha (3)
- he joined a secret society within the egyptian army that focused on eliminating ottoman influence within the army.
- britain were suprised at the idea of a nationalist movement so removed ismail
- tewfik asked british for help against arabi so the british fleet bombarded the city
what was the aftermath of 1882 for arabi pasha
- sentenced to death but with british intervention he was exiled to sri lanka until 1901
what happened at the battle of tel el kabir 1882
- it was a nationalist uprising in response to the british fleet bombarding the city
- led by arabi pasha
- general wolseley arrived with his army on the 16th august (british)
- british attacked during the night and the battle was over in half an hour
what were the statistics of the battle of tel el kabir (4)
- cost £2.3 million for the british
- 15,000 british troops from malta and cyprus
- 10,000 troops from india
- 18,000 egyptians were fighting
what was the aftermath of the battle of tel el kabir (2)
- because arabi was captured the nationalist movement was over
- wolseley was celebrated in britain
why was mohammed ali significant in egypt
he tried to modernise egypt
what was the british foreign policy before 1882 in relation to the ottoman empire
preserve and protect it
what was egypt known as under british rule
veiled protectorate
what was driving egyptian nationalism (5)
- bad quality of life for fellahin
- turkish ruling class
- unhappy with khedive
- western racist views of egyptians
- western influence
what were the limitations of the nationalist movement (4)
- wasn’t a mass movement
- no commen views
- not a violent threat
- limited to cafe culture
what was al afghanis significance (4)
- reached out to the fellahin
- sparked writers and journalists
- started and spread nationalism
- was seen as a threat at the time
