Egypt WW1 to Suez Flashcards
What did Britain do to the Khedive a month before the war on 5th November 1914?
Replaced Abbas with his uncle Husayn Kamil
Who replaced Kitchener around the start of the war?
Sir Henry McMahon, and then Sir Reginald Wingate shortly after
What did Egypt do about providing troops for the war?
It wasn’t required to provide troops but the people (particularly peasantry) were heavily affected by the war. Martial law was declared throughout the country
When did Husayn Kamil die and who was he replaced by?
October 1917, replaced by his brother Ahmad Fuad
What happened on November 13th 1918?
Wingate was visited by three Egyptian politicians who told him that they were going to England to demand independence from the British Empire
How did the Empire respond to the Politicians demanding independence?
Refused the delegation and arrested the leaders, causing widespread nationalist protests
What happened in the widespread nationalist protests 1918?
Egyptians went on strike, civil disobedience, rioting and demonstrations. 800 Egyptians were killed and more than 2k wounded
What legislation gave Egypt independence? when?
Milner Report on February 28th, 1922, though they wouldn’t withdraw forces from Suez Canal or recognise Egyptian Sovereignty over Sudan
After Independence what did the Egyptian Kingdom turn into?
A constitutional Monarchy, King given executive powers in government and a new parliament established.
How was voting decided in the first general election in 1924?
All men allowed to vote
When did King Fuad die and who was he replaced by?
1936, he was replaced by his 16 year old son Farouk
What treaty did Farouk sign and what did it establish?
Anglo-Egyptians Treaty, mutual defence and alliance between the two countries
What did Egypt do in ww2?
Following the treaty they provided facilities for the British war effort, few citizens supported Britain and thought they would win
What happened in Early 1942?
German forces threaten to invade Egypt and took up a base near a major railway junction in El Alamein, their forces led by Marshall Erwin Rommel, the desert fox, were matched by Allies.
What did Britain fear by 1947?
Communist Russias ambitions in the MIddle East
Thought Britain withdrawed from Palestine where did they have 10,000 troops due to the Treaty?
In the Suez Canal Zone, as well as control over Aden, Cyprus and air-force bases in Iraq.
What happened in the years after 1947?
There was constant skirmishing around the Canal Zone and in 1951, King Farouk renounced the Treaty proclaiming himself King of Sudan.
What eventually happened to Farouk?
In January 1952 he was overthrown in a military coup by a group of army officers led by General Nasser
What happened in 1953?
Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary in Churchill’s Conservative government, sought to negotiate with Egypts new rulers
What did the British agree to do in 1954?
Agreed to a phased withdrawal of troops from the Suez Canal Zone over the next 20 months, subject to certain rights of occupation in times of war.
What does the Suez Canal withdrawal reflect?
Britains financial difficulties and their desire to improve Anglo-Arab relations
What did Egyptians promise the British for their withdrawal?
-Free access through the Suez Canal
-The maintenance of the former British bases in an operational condition
-To respect the independence of the Suez Canal Company
What was the Baghdad Pact?
Signed in 1955 to repel any Soviet Threat to the Middle East
Why did Nasser not sign the Baghdad Pact?
Feared the pact threatened Egyptian dominance, Nasser turned to communist Czechoslovakia for arms and signed an alliance with Syria
Who replaced Churchill as PM and when?
Anthony Eden succeeded Churchill as PM in April 1955
What happened June 1956
Nasser made himself president of Egypt
