Imperial and Colonial Policy-Egypt Flashcards
Who was consul general from 1883-1907?
Sir Evelyn Baring
What were the unique problems of Egyptian Governance?
Ottoman Empire=restricted GB’s freedom to act
1)The capitulations
(privilege granted from Sultans that meant Europeans could be tried under their own laws rather than Islamic law, meant that any new Egyptian laws which affected Europeans made they also had to be approved by their own government as well= law making slow and complex
2)Mixed courts
Egyptian judges not guaranteed to find favour in British interests
3)The caisse de la dette (debt commission)
controlled the finance of Egypt and government spending could be veoted =consul general limited ability to push through plans
What was signed with France in 1904?
Entente cordiale
formal friendly agreement
=french accept british occupation of Egypt if Britain recognised French occupation of Morocco
What were the baring reforms?
Main task to deal with £70 million debt left by Khedive Ismail through reduced spending
-made major cuts to military and gov
But also long term economic investments and projects:
-improvements in communications and irrigation infrastructure
-improved working conditions and health services
-organised building of Aswan Dam (1896-1902)
-In first 10 years of his appointment cotton and sugar production trebled, population grew from 7 to 10 million
Military reforms:
-6000 british troops added to Egyptian army
Other improvements:
-made to law courts, police and education but education limits still limited
Growth of Tourism:
-Thomas cook became Egypt’s largest employer
Who benefitted from Baring reforms?
Egyptian upper class benefitted most
from the late 1890s there was a growth in middle class nationalism
Britain focused on production of raw cotton rather then development of local industries
Lack of opportunities for educated Egyptians in government
Who was the National Party?
Founded in 1881
members were mostly educated lawyers who wanted their own representative government and the end of British occupation =Baring mostly ignored their demands
What was the Denshawai incident?
british officer angered local resident of Denshawai for pigeon shooting for sport. An officers gun went off and wounded the wife of a Muslim prayer leader.
=British responded by arresting 52 villagers, 4 convicted of murder and sentence to death
What was the long term consequence of the incident?
British Rule is questioned
When was the Denshawai incident?
1906
Who was Governor General of Egypt 1907-1911?
Eldon Gorst
What reforms did Eldon Gorst introduce?
-Brought more Egyptians into government to weaken the Egyptian National Party
-1909 new universities founded to teach modern subjects
BUT also imposed press censorship in 1909 and increased penalties for nationalist activities
When was Lord Kitchener Governor General of Egypt?
Lord Kitchener
What reforms did Lord Kitchener introduce?
1913 made a new legislative Assembly (however all from rich, landowning class)
Why was WW1 so significant to British administration?
Ottoman Empire chose to enter WW1 on the side of the central powers so Suez even more strategically necessary ….. so Britain officially declared Egypt a protectorate Nov 1914
Britain replaced Khedive Abbas 11 with pro-british uncle Hussein Kamel who declared himself an independent Sultan of Egypt under British protection
