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Created by engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps with international shares. French companies had controlling shares.
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Grand opening, e.g. Verdi commissioned to write an opera.
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Buys 44% shares from Khedive Isma'il for £4 million, without the approval of Parliament.
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Isma'il had acrued £70m debt. Representatives from European creditor states. 1/2 of govt revenue went towards paying various European bond holders. Fr and Russia used this to prevent Consul-General from financing the reconquest of Sudan
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Due to disastrous economic management after attempted modernisation schemes. Replaced by son Tewfiq. Dual control: British and French ministers formed the Caisse de la Dette Publique to manage Egyptian economy. British commissioner Lord Dufferin placed in charge of government revenues.
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Arabi Pasha aimed to depose Tewfiq and reduce foreign influence in Egypt. Followed increasing unrest about taxes imposed on Egypt by British ministers and the cutting of the army by 2/3 (unemployment).
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Egypt was a defacto British colony under nominal Ottoman rule, with the Khedive directed by a Consul-General. In 1914, Egypt was declared a formal Protectorate after the Ottomans sided with the Central Powers at the outbreak of WW1.
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After 50 Europeans were killed in anti-European riots in Alexandria, British sent 15 ironclad gunboats. Bombardment lasted for 10.5 hours from 7am, fired at key defensive positions e.g. Fort Ada. French chose not to intervene. Tewfiq was restored as ruler and British troops moved into Egypt to crush the nationalist movement.
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Garnet Wolseley commanded Anglo-Egyptian forces and won the battle. Arabi was captured and British troops occupied Egypt. Evelyn Baring was installed as Consul-General of Egypt with Tewfiq remaining as a puppet ruler.
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Evelyn Baring, Lord Cromer was Consul-General of Egypt, acted as an 'advisor' to the Khedive. Egyptian govt ministers on General Assembly/Advisory Council of Laws had 'support' of a Brit. 1885- only 100 Brits working in Egyptian govt, 1905- over 1K. Improved communications, irrigation, sanitation. By 1903, exports of cotton sugar trebled, population grew 7-10m. Placed 6K British troops in army under Kitchener.
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Muslim cleric Muhammad Ahmad proclaimed himself the Mahdi in June 1881 and built a jihadist army. Defeated Anglo-Egyptian forces led by Colonel William Hicks at the Battle of Shayakan.
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Secured international loans for Egypt and solidified British influence. French unable to do anything, as they had not intervened to defeat Urabi. Military personnel and political/economic 'advisors' put in place in Egyptian government departments.
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After defeat at Shayakan, Gladstone sent Gordon to oversee withdrawal of British forces from Sudan, but Gordon chose to stay and called for reinforcements. Public pressure for Gladstone to provide relief: sent soldiers, but they arrived too late. Khartoum under siege March 84- Jan 85. Beheaded, became a national martyr, e.g. painting 'General Gordon's Last Stand' (George William Joy).
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al-Hizb al-Watani first formed 1881, revived underground in 1893. Attracted middle-class nationalists e.g. lawayers, professionals. Sought rep govt, end of Br occupation complained about lack of opportunities for educated Egyptians (less likely than before to be able to run their own govt) and failure to support Egyptian cloth-making industry. Cromer largely ignored this, but did appoint nationalist Saad Zaghluls Pasha as minister for education in 1906
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Anglo-Egyptian army under Kitchener defeated the Mahdists at the Battle of Omdurman. Anglo-Egyptian condominium was created in Sudan, with a Governor-General that was appointed by the Khedive but nominated by the British.
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Rapid expansion of tourism in Egypt, e.g. Nile cruises. Thomas Cook Son became Egypt's largest employer- hotels, boats, excursions. 1900: popular for wealthy Brits to 'winter' in Egypt.
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British officers were shooting pigeons near Denshawai (bred for food). Confrontation: wife of a prayer leader injured by an officer's gun, officer collapsed and died. Authorities set up a tribunal, arrested 52 villagers. 4 sentenced to death, 1 to penal servitude, 26 to hard labour flogging. Egyptian policeman who testified for villagers given 2 years imprisonment, 50 lashes. Outrage/horror in nationalist press
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Brought more Egyptians into responsible govt to try and weaken the National Party. Imposed tighter press censorship in 1909, used penal measures to quell nationalism but German govt was funding anti-British sentiment.
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Baring did not want to extend education opportunities to avoid growth of nationalist protest. Uni of Cairo offered only religious education, most Egyptians only received elementary schooling. Egyptian Uni founded to teach modern subjects, train men for professions.
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Increased British dominance, tried to uncover nationalist groups.
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Replaced/combined the Advisory Council of Laws and General Assembly. 66 elected members, 17 appointed nominees. Inadequate: represented wealthy, pro-British landowners rather than ordinary people
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Unilaterally declared protectorate over Egypt in Nov 1914 after outbreak of WW1. Ruling Khedive (Ottoman ally) deposed. Successor Hussein Kamel compelled to declare himself as an independent Sultan of Egypt, under British protection
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