Colonialism and Independence in the Middle East

Question 1

1. How can you explain the period of colonialism in the Middle East?

Answer 1

a. 1920-1940
b. Rise and decline of European Hegemony, colonialism lasted form the WWI to WWII
c. French Mandate: Colonial states, revolution and independence (1920-1946)
d. British Mandate: Client regimes, independence and revolution (1920-1958)
e. Egypt: Clientelism, intervention and revolution (1925-1952)
f. Iran: dynastic rule, nationalism and intervention (1925-1953)

Question 2

Independence of French mandates

Answer 2

• They were colonial states.
• First of revolution then independence.
• Direct mandates: French leaders administrating the colonial states.

Question 3

Independence of Britain mandates

Answer 3

• Client regimes.
• First independence then revolution.
• The British empire conceded independence but the government still continue by the british influence.
• The revolutions started after the recognition of independence.

Question 4

3. How did the revolution in Egypt occur?

Answer 4

a. During 1952
b. It was achieve by the Free Officers Movement
c. Military coup led by a group of young army officers against the monarchy.
d. Leader: Gamal Abder Nasser

Question 5

4. Explain the Mandatory in Iraq.

Answer 5

a. During 1920-1958
b. Britain was the de fasto power until independence in 1932.
c. Military coup establishes a republic headed by Abdul-Karim Qassim as Prime Minister.

Question 6

5. During the Syrian and Lebanese mandate: How was Syria divided during the mandate?

Answer 6

a. Lebanon is created by the necessity of stablish a Christian state.
b. Divided Greater Syria into six states governed by France
i. Damascus
ii. Apelppo
iii. Jabal al- Druze State
iv. Greater Lebanon
v. Alawite State
vi. Sanjak of Alexandretta

Question 7

6. In what year did France recognize Lebanon’s independence?

Answer 7

a. 1943

Question 8

7. In what year did French troops withdraw from all of Syria?

Answer 8

a. 1946

Question 9

8. Which mandate was Iraq part of?

Answer 9

a. British

Question 10

9. Name of the king during Iraq’s mandate.

Answer 10

a. Faysal ibn Hussayn aka Faysal I
b. One year after (1933), Ghazi becomes king.

Question 11

10. Faysal II (Who is he? Predecessors?)

Answer 11

a. 1. Faysal ibn Hussayn
b. 2. Ghazi (1932)
c. 3. Faysal II (1939)
d. 4. Abdul-Karim Qassim as Prime Minister (1958)

Iraq

Question 12

11. When did Egypt gain independence from Great Britain? What type of political regime was established?

Answer 12

a. 1922: Independence from Great Britain and accession of King Fuad I.
b. The Constitution established parliamentary monarchy.
c. The independence declaration ended British colonial rule, Egypt became a constitutional monarchy, with the British maintaining a military presence and control over Sudan and the Suez Canal.

Question 13

12. What was the name of the Egyptian king during the 1952 coup?

Answer 13

a. King Farouk I (Farouk el-Din Fuad II)

Question 14

13. What was the name of the dynasty that ruled Iran since 1924?

Answer 14

a. The Pahlavi dynasty.

Question 15

14. What was the name of the member of this dynasty who became the second Shah?

Answer 15

a. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Question 16

15. What was the name of the nationalist Iranian Prime Minister elected in 1951? What was one of the first actions he took?

Answer 16

a. Mohammed Mossadegh.
b. He nationalized the oil industry.

Question 17

16. What was Great Britain’s response, supported by the U.S., to the nationalization of oil?

Answer 17

a. 1953: U.S. and British-supported coup against Mossadegh after nationalization of oil industry.