Chapter One - The Great Powers Flashcards
The importance of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal was important at the beginning of the twentieth century because of Indian troops travelling to Europe and for trade. The Persian Gulf was important at the beginning of the twentieth century because of the source of oil that the British Navy was dependent on. The British wanted to protect the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf at the beginning of the twentieth century because it was the major route to Britain’s empire in India and colonies in the far east.
Origins of Zionism
Theodor Herzl, an Austrian Jew living in Paris who wrote ‘Der Judenstaat’ in 1896 and argued that because Jewish people couldn’t expect an end to antisemitism, they should have their own state. British zionist Chaim Weizmann influenced the Balfour declaration of 1917 that declared British support for Jewish people settling in Palestine in trade for American assistance in the first world war. The British never actually promised the establishment of a state, but for the next thirty years, many Jewish people expected a state and regarded it as a promise.
Origins of the McMahon - Hussein Letters
In 1913, the Arab National Congress was held. Arabs aimed to re-establish Arab rule in the Middle East. In the late 1800s they tried to rebel against them. In 1914, the Arab National Manifesto was published, it called for independence from Turkey and unity among the Arabs. Turkey played a huge role in World War One as they fought on the German side against the British. Turkey had the power to cut off Britain’s supplies of oil from Persia. The British navy was making more use of oil instead of coal for ships. Britain encouraged the Arabs to rebel against the Turks and seek independence. McMahon promised Hussein that if the Arabs fought against the Turks, Britain would support Arab independence and advise the Arabs how to establish their government.
Origins of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
The League of Nations allocated France the mandates over Syria and Lebanon and gave Britain the mandates over Palestine, Transjordan and Iraq. Lawrence of Arabia felt that the Sykes-Picot agreement humiliated Hussein. He advised the British government to establish Hussein’s son Faisal as King of Syria. Faisal’s Arab army had liberated Damascus from the Turks in October 1918. The British government didn’t follow his advice because Syria was a French mandate and the British prioritised their alliance with France instead of their promise to Faisal. In 1921, the British betrayed the Arabs by agreeing to French forces invading Syria and expelling Faisal from the throne he held for two years. Faisal was now King of Iraq and Abdullah was ruler of Transjordan.
Result of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
The post-war order imposed by Britain and France didn’t lead to lasting peace and is one of the main reasons that there is constant dispute in the Middle East. The French acted as a colonial power with military force. The press was controlled, demonstrations were suppressed. In 1936, a treaty granting independence to Syria was signed but the French assembly refused to sign it. In Lebanon, there is a pro-French majority and a constitution was drafted in 1936, in which Lebanon proposed a treaty of independence, but France refused to sign it. The French built roads and schools, and the French language was promoted. In 1945, Syria and Lebanon gained independence, when they were admitted to the united nations and French troops were withdrawn in 1946.
Transjordan becoming Jordan
Britain recognised Transjordan as an independent state in 1923, however troops remained and their foreign policy was still guided by the British. Abdullah received financial subsidies from Britain and schools and roads were built. Glubb Pasha founded the Desert Patrol which he took command of. Abdullah became King in 1946 and from 1949, Transjordan was recognised as Jordan.
Anglo-French rule in Iraq
Iraq had a lot of oil that was vital to Britain. By October 1920, 100,000 troops were in Iraq. They crushed the uprising but aroused more opposition. The reason Faisal became King of Iraq was because the British realised they couldn’t rule Iraq by themselves and needed collaborators. The British finalised the borders of Iraq and it included three groups: Kurds, Sunnis, Shias. In 1932, Britain granted independence to Iraq and they were admitted into the League of Nations. However, Britain still had control over Iraq’s foreign policy, kept two air bases and controlled the oil from which Britain had a 47.5% share.
Anglo-French rule in Egypt
Egypt wasn’t a mandate of Britain or France. The Suez Canal opened in 1869 and was jointly owned by Britain and French companies. Britain dominated Egypt after anti-European riots that erupted in 1882 and British troops occupied Egypt and remained until the 1950s. In 1914, the British deposed the pro-Turkish ruler of Egypt and Cairo was flooded with British troops who were a part of the British war effort. They seized crops and forced the Egyptians to work for them. In 1918, the Egyptians felt independent, but the British refused to let them send a delegation to the Versailles peace conference.
Arab Rebellion in Palestine
1936-1939
Peel Commission recommended partition of Palestine
1937
British government White Paper
1939
Suez Canal’s importance
The Suez Canal was important at the beginning of the twentieth century because of Indian troops travelling to Europe and for trade.
Persian Gulf’s importance
The Persian Gulf was important at the beginning of the twentieth century because of the source of oil that the British Navy was dependent on.
British intentions of the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf
The British wanted to protect the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf at the beginning of the twentieth century because it was the major route to Britain’s empire in India and colonies in the far east.
History of Jews in Palestine
Jewish people happily lived in Palestine from 1500 BC. They revolted against their Roman government in 70 AD and 135 AD. Most Jewish people were attacked and expelled out of Palestine and so they fled to different parts of the world. Almost all Europeans were Christian and they forced Jewish people to live in separate areas.
History of European antisemitism
They weren’t allowed to vote or own land. As discrimination increased, many were expelled from western Europe and settled in Russia and Poland. Jewish people were blamed for the assassination of the Tsar in 1881 and there were many anti-Jewish riots. The new Tsar’s government encouraged the persecution of Jewish people; synagogues were burned down and thousands of Jewish people were killed. Many fled to western Europe and the USA but found that they were profiled as being disloyal or untrustworthy.
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl, an Austrian Jew living in Paris who wrote ‘Der Judenstaat’ in 1896 and argued that because Jewish people couldn’t expect an end to antisemitism, they should have their own state.
Chaim Weizmann
British Zionist Chaim Weizmann influenced the Balfour declaration of 1917 that declared British support for Jewish people settling in Palestine in trade for American assistance in the first world war. The British never actually promised the establishment of a state, but for the next thirty years, many Jewish people expected a state and regarded it as a promise.
History of Arabs
Arabs originally resided in Saudi Arabia and all spoke Arabic. Many converted to Islam and emigrated across the Middle East and North Africa. They made discoveries in mathematics and medicine. Beautiful mosques and their merchants bought and sold in Europe, Asia and Africa.
British aims of Arab independence
In 1913, the Arab National Congress was held. Arabs aimed to re-establish Arab rule in the Middle East. In the late 1800s they tried to rebel against them. In 1914, the Arab National Manifesto was published, it called for independence from Turkey and unity among the Arabs. Turkey played a huge role in World War One as they fought on the German side against the British. Turkey had the power to cut off Britain’s supplies of oil from Persia. The British navy was making more use of oil instead of coal for ships. Britain encouraged the Arabs to rebel against the Turks and seek independence. McMahon promised Hussein that if the Arabs fought against the Turks, Britain would support Arab independence and advise the Arabs how to establish their government.
Origins of the mandates
After the Arab revolt, Britain and France secretly agreed to divide up previously Turkish land and share them between themselves. All Arab land was somewhat controlled by Britain and France. World War One wasn’t going well and Britain needed to maintain a strong alliance with France. Britain and France had extensive trading links with the Middle East. Britain wanted to protect the Suez Canal, which it jointly owned and operated with France.
Why was the wording of the Balfour Declaration important?
The British never actually promised the establishment of a state, but for the next thirty years, many Jewish people expected a state and regarded it as a promise.
Where did the Arabs originally reside?
Saudi Arabia and all spoke Arabic. Many converted to Islam and emigrated across the Middle East and north Africa.
