occupation of egypt Flashcards
When did Isma’il Pasha become governor of Egypt?
1863
What did Isma’il Pasha do?
New hospitals and medical schools which used modern westernised medicine
Law reforms (hybrid Islamic/French legal system)
Transformation of agriculture (cotton and sugar)
Improved paved roads/bridges/railways
What did Isma’il Pasha’s reforms cause?
Bankruptcy
When did the Suez Canal open?
1869
Who was the Suez Canal built by?
Frenchmen using Egyptian forced labours.
How many workers died building the Suez Canal?
120,000
How many miles does the Suez Canal stretch?
120 miles between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea
What is the significance of the Suez Canal?
It improves trade routes to India- before it was 12,300 miles for Britain, with the Suez Canal it was down to 7,200 miles.
How did Egypt’s bankruptcy affect the Suez Canal?
Shares in the project were made internationally available
When did Pasha sell his 44% shares in the Suez Canal to pay debts?
1875
Who bought Pasha’s shares in the Suez Canal?
Disraeli secretly bought them using a loan from wealthy Rothschild family without parliaments consent.
Who owned the other 56% in the Suez Canal?
France
When did Caisse De La Dette Publique form?
1876
Why did Caisse De La Dette Publique form?
Egypt defaulted so was pressured by creditors into accepting signification external interference in financial affairs
What did Caisse De La Dette Publique do?
It meant the Egyptian government needed permission of Caisse to spend the remaining revenue
What 2 portions were Britain and France appointed in 1876?
Britain= Minister of Finance
France= Minister of Public Works
When did the Ottomans and Brits depose Pasha?
1879
Who replaced Pasha?
Tewfiq
When was the nationalist revolt against the government of Tewfiq Pasha?
1882
Who led the nationalist revolt?
Colonal Arabi
Why did the nationalist revolt occur?
Taxes were imposed on Egyptian food and goods.
The army was reduced by two thirds
What happened in June 1882?
50 Europeans were killed.
PM Gladstone sent naval forces to Alexandria to restore Tewfiq and protect European communities.
Arabi declared a war but the British commander in chief secured the Suez Canal via having British forces defeat Arabi’s forces in a battle lasting an hour.
Arabi was exiled and Tewfiq restored.
What was Tewfiq?
A puppet leader
When was the Convention of London?
1885
What was the Convention of London?
An international loan
What did the Convention of London secure?
British influence in Egypt
Major Evelyn Baring was installed as consul general and effectively ruled from behind a screen of Egyptian ministers
What was Egypt before 1914?
A veiled protectorate
Who were the directors of Caisse De La Dette Publique?
Britain, France, Italy, Austria and Russia
