The 1956 Suez Crisis

Question 1

The Suez Crisis Causes

Answer 1

• 1956: Colonel Nasser became President of Egypt
• Britain and America had promised loans for the construction of the Aswan Dam
• Americans discovered that Nasser approached Soviets for aid and the American money was withdrawn
• Nationalised Canal to raise the money needed for the Dam
• British shares in the Canal were overtaken by the Egyptian government
• Eden was worried about the essential oil supplies that came from the Middle East via the Suez Canal
• French were willing to help as Egypt supported Arab nationalists in French Algeria
• Eden viewed Nasser as a dictator due to what he had been taught
• Israel keen to attack Egypt as it was an Arab country

Question 2

The Suez Crisis Events

Answer 2

• Israel would attack Egypt across the Sinai Peninsula which separated Egypt and Israel
• Once Israel reached the Canal, France and Britain would launch a joint assault on the Canal region from the North under the pretence of forcing a ceasefire between Egypt and Israel
• Plan was accepted by Cabinet, Israelis attacked in late October

Question 3

The Suez Crisis Consequences

Answer 3

• Eden was accused of lying to the House of Commons, damaging his reputation
• Rebellion was led by nearly 40 Conservative MPs
• Labour also attacked Eden’s mad venture
• President Eisenhower condemned the invasion and in early November secured a vote from the UN urging to end the operation
• Britain was plunged into an economic crisis due to US pressure their forces due to America’s opposition
• Soviet threats of nuclear weapons towards the West since US weren’t involved
• Event marked a serious decline in Britain’s international power and independent authority

Question 4

The Suez Crisis US Anger

Answer 4

• Eisenhower was furious that action had been taken without the agreement of the US
• Personally lambasted Eden over the phone
• Eisenhower was worried that the West’s involvement in Suez would lead Arab nations to support the Soviet Union
• Serious concern considering the oil wealth of the Arab nations
• Eisenhower threatened Eden by warning that would not support the Sterling

Question 5

Anthony Eden’s Resignation

Answer 5

• Day after the Soviet’s letter threat to use nuclear weapons against the West, Eden ordered British withdrawal
• Suez was a watershed moment for France and Britain who now appreciated that they were no longer imperial powers who could intervene in countries like the 19th century
• Eden resigned weeks after the events with his official reason being due to poor health