Egypt as a whole Flashcards
P1. How did Britain first gain interest in Egypt?
With Disraeli’s purchase of the Suez canal shares in 1875. Owned 44% of the shares for £4 million.
P1. What benefits did the Suez Canal bring?
The new route to India was 6,000 miles shorter. Also 40% of migrants to Egypt were British due to growing cotton industry.
P1. How did Britain first establish control?
Dual control was established due to Egyptian debts in 1878 (along with the French) when British experts were brought in to govern government revenue.
P1. How did Britain expand control beyond 1978?
The current leader ‘Isma’il’ was deposed in 1879 due to financial mismanagement. His son Tewiq became the new Khediv. Britain (under Commissioner Lord Dufferin) was able to exert influence on Tewiq.
P1. What was the build up to the Arabi Pasha Revolt?
Dual control placed taxes on foods and goods. The Egyptian army was reduced to 2/3 leading to greater unemployment. Nationalist leader Colonel Arabi Pasha forced Tewfiq to appoint his allies to government positions.
P1. What were the main events of the Arabi Pasha revolt?
June 1882 the Alexander Riots killed 50 Europeans. Gladstone intervenes and the Royal Navy bombarded Alexandria. Britain defeated Arabi Pasha at Tel el-Kebir and retook Cairo.
P1. How did Britain establish a veiled protectorate?
Tewfiq was restored as a puppet ruler and forced to make a government alongside British interests and British military personnel to supervise the Egyptian army. Evelyn Baring was made Consul-General and ruled Egypt.
P1. What happened regarding Egypt 1885?
Colonel Gordon was sent to act as Governor-General of Sudan. Sudanese hostility arose from the Mahdi in 1881 and grew into a jihadist army. By 1882 had controlled the area surrounding Khartoum. 1883 Colonel Hicks launched a counter-attack to the Mahdists but died. In 1884 Gordon was ordered to evacuate troops but was overrun in 1885 and beheaded.
P2. Why did Britain’s interests in Egypt lead to intervention in Sudan?
Salisbury didn’t want to lose control of Suez. Fear of France gaining control of the headwaters of the Nile. Italian loss in Abyssina could divert the Madhists attention back to Sudan.
P2. How did Britain conquer Sudan?
General Kitchener invaded with 10,000 troops (and volunteers) and retook Khartoum. Won the battle of Omdurman in 1898.
P2. In what ways was Britain conciliatory in the period 1882-1914?
Introduced a Legislative Assembly (with 49 elected members and 16 chosen) in 1911 to replace the Advisory Council. Improved communication, irrigation and infrastructure (Aswan Dam). Baring appointed Nationalist Saad Zaghoul Pasha as Minister for Education.
P2. In what ways did Britain act in selfish means in Egypt 1882-1914?
50% of all taxes were spent on paying European debt. Mixed courts tried Europeans and Egyptians separately. Had 6,000 British troops in the Egyptian army. Cautious approach to education, only offered a few elementary years at school and only founded a new University in 1909. Increase of 100 to over 1,000 Britons working in the Egyptian government. Failed to promote Egypt’s cloth industry. The Denshawai incident in 1906 demonstrated the inequality in Egyptian courts.
P2. What form did Egyptian Nationalism take?
The National Party was formed as a secret society. They were repressed by General Gorst through censorship and bring more Egyptians into government to weaken the party. Counsul-General Kitchener introduced a legislative assembly to curb Nationalism. Unilateral decision to join the war by Kitchener in 1914.
P3. What reinvigorated Nationalism in Egypt?
The exile of Nationalist leader Saad Zaghoul in
P3. What form did this Nationalism take and what were the consequences?
Rioting, civil disobedience, demonstrations and strikes through all classes in society. Attacks on military bases and railways ect. 800 Egyptians died and 1,600 injured. Milner Report 1921 led to the granting of Egyptian independence in 1922.
