L3: British and Egyptian Control of the Suez Canal

Question 1

What is Egypt’s trading history?

Answer 1

Egypt has long been an important trading point between Europe and Asia

Question 2

What did Egypt used to be apart of?

Answer 2

The Ottoman Empire

Question 3

How long has Britain and Egypt been trading?

Answer 3

Since the 19th century

Question 4

What conflict affected the trading between Britain and Egypt?

Answer 4

In the 1800s - 1810s, France and Napoleon tried to undermine British presence and tried to establish French interests in Egypt too

Question 5

When and why did Britain regain interest in Egypt again?

Answer 5

The cotton from America was disrupted by the American Civil War and Egypt made high-quality cotton and was keen to find other countries to buy it off them

Question 6

During the American Civil War, what did Britain invest in?

Answer 6

Britain invested in the Egyptian cotton industry and the modernizing programme

Question 7

Who lead the Egyptian cotton industry programme?

Answer 7

The Khedive (leader) of Egypt, Isma’il Pasha

Question 8

When did Isma’il Pasha come to power?

Answer 8

1863

Question 9

What did Pasha want to do to Egypt?

Answer 9

Turn it into a successful modern nation

Question 10

How did Pasha modernise Egypt?

Answer 10

He established a professional army
Extended Egyptian control through Sudan
Developed irrigation, electric lighting, railways and schools

Question 11

What else did Pasha build that was important?

Answer 11

The Suez Canal

Question 12

Who built the Suez Canal?

Answer 12

It was built by a French company called the Suez Canal Company (1858) when given permission to do so by Pasha

Question 13

How did the opening of the Suez Canal affect Europe?

Answer 13

Huge for trade coming from China and India into Europe
Also cut 6,000 miles off the journey

Question 14

When shares for the project was available, who bought most of them?

Answer 14

France

Question 15

What did Britain buy when buying its share of the Suez Canal?

Answer 15

Britain bought Egypt’s controlling shares in 1875 when Pasha was going bankrupt

Question 16

Why did the Egyptians loose faith in Pasha?

Answer 16

It was clear that Pasha was becoming a puppet-leader, controlled by the British

Question 17

Why was Pasha removed as Khedive?

Answer 17

He was removed in favour of his son

Question 18

What was Pasha’s son like as Khedive?

Answer 18

He was just as controlled by the imperial powers as his father was

Question 19

What did the powers of the British in Egypt lead to?

Answer 19

Rise of Egyptian nationalism

Question 20

Who led the Egyptian nationalism?

Answer 20

Ahmed Urabi

Question 21

How did Urabi support his nationalist cause?

Answer 21

Urabi order Twefig to sack his ministers who had “sold the country to Europeans
He also demanded an elected assembly and a purge of alien elements from the army and civil service
Urabi was appointed minister of War

Question 22

Which area rioted as a result of increasing nationalism?

Answer 22

Alexandria

Question 23

Why did riots break out in Alexandria in June and why did the British get involved?

Answer 23

Tensions broke out when a Maltese murdered an Egyptian donkey boy during a street fracas.
Rioting including attacks on Europeans and their property
British got involved because it was a chance to blame Urabi and his agitators

Question 24

What were the consequences of the Alexandria riot?

Answer 24

50 Brits killed
British navy became a violent bombardment and suppression of Alexandria

Question 25

How did the British respond to the Alexandrian riots?

Answer 25

The bombardment of Alexandria was when the British bombarded the city of Alexandria with guns and shells without the assistance of France

Question 26

What was the damage of the bombardment of Alexandria?

Answer 26

It triggered fresh tumults, looting and attacks on Europeans
British warships were ordered ashore to suppress the disorders

Question 27

How did the suppression of Alexandria end?

Answer 27

British were firmly under the control of Egyptian administration

Question 28

What did Urabi promise not to do?

Answer 28

Interfere with the Suez canal