Suez Canal And Egypt

Question 1

How did British interest in Egypt grow from 1857?

Answer 1

• 1857: British rule seems unlikely, despite convenient route to the east, because of British hostility to Muslim rulers.
• interest grew during American civil war (61-65) as Britain needed cotton which Egypt had a lot of cotton. British companies invested in Egyptian cotton and modernising rule of isma’il pasha. Trading grew with Egypt and by 70s Egypt had 40% of imports from Britain.
• isma’il pasha modernised Egypt building railways and schools, and more importantly, made the Suez Canal, a 6000 mile shorter route to Asia for Europeans.

Question 2

Suez Canal

Answer 2

1858- Suez Canal company set up, allowed to run it for 99 years.
1869 - Suez completed after 10 years of work. Britain not initially interested.
1875- after seeing a dip of profit for British trade in the cape colony, and isma’il pasha needing investment in Canal shares, Ben Disraeli buys £4 mill of shares giving British greater control of its route to India and tariff income.

Question 3

What happened when Khedive Ismail was deposed in 1879?

Answer 3

• Ismail deposed in 1879 due to Anglo-french pressure, with his son tewfiq taking over, but with English money keeping Egypt afloat, the British commissioner, lord dufferin, had significant influence.
• Taxes put on goods and foods, army reduced by 2/3s which increases unemployment, led to revolution lead by Arabi Pasha, who put lots of anti European allies in tewfiq’s government, causing brits to be concerned about trade, investment, European citizens and the Suez.

Question 4

How did things escalate in Egypt in June 1882?

Answer 4

• 50 Europeans killed in Alexandria
• further revolts cause Gladstone to send naval forces to bombard Alexandria
• despite defeat by arabi at Kafr el-Dawwar, commander in chief grant wolseley secured the Suez and defeated forces at Tel el-Kebir, allowing brits to re-take Cairo, restoring tewfiq as puppet-ruler, starting British occupation of Egypt

Question 5

What happened after tewfiq was appointed puppet ruler?

Answer 5

• Evelyn Baring made consul-general, tewfiq had to have British friendly government and military personnel and rely in their advisors.
• confirmed by 1885 convention of London, Egypt now a ‘veiled protectorate’ baring effectively ruling from behind a screen of Egyptian ministers.

Question 6

What happened in Sudan from 57-90?

Answer 6

• Charles Gordon appointed governor-general from 77-80, but faced opposition from Muhammad Ahmad, declared himself Mahdi in June 81, creating a jihadi army seeking to liberate Sudan from outside rule.
• 1883 - colonel William hicks launches counter attack, where hicks is killed.
• 1884 - Gladstone orders gordon to evacuate Khartoum, overrun in 1885 where the whole garrison is killed and Gordon beheaded, Gladstone doesn’t retaliate out of fear of loss of life.