French mandate in Syria and Lebanon

By hettysimpson123

  • Sykes-Picot agreement

    France were assigned the interior of Syria
  • Period: to

    The Alawite state witnessed several Anti-French rebellions

  • Paris Peace Conference

    European powers renounced their promises made to Faisal and the Arabs

  • The King-Crane commission- confirmed opposition to the mandate and the Balfour Declaration

  • Treaty of Sevres granted France the mandate of Syria

    Syrians reacted with violent demonstrations

  • Congress of Damascus declared Faisal 'King of all Arabs'

  • Franco-Syrian War

  • France Divides up the mandate of Syria into six mini states

    Damascus, Aleppo, Alawite, Jabal-al-Druze, Lebanon and Alexandretta states are created

  • Gouraud issues Faisal an ultimatum of submission or abdication

  • Faisal abdicated but the minister of war refused to comply with the French

  • Period: to

    It took three years for the French to gain full control

  • Period: to

    Changes to Alexandretta (French)

    Autonomous Province of Syria (1921)
    Attached to state of Syria (1923)
    French Mandate of Syria (1925)

  • League of Nations formally grants Lebanon as a mandate to the French

  • France unified the Damascus and Aleppo into one state of 'Syria'

  • Revolt in Jabal-al-Druze

    Sparked by local grievances- alliance between the Druze rebels and the nationalists of Damascus. Rebels controlled the countryside. Two day bombardment by the French
  • Period: to

    Changes to Alexandretta (Turkey)

    Always linked to France and Turkey for defence.
    Turkish military expelled Alawite Arabs and Armenians (1938) .
    Alexandretta became the Hatay state- joint French annd Turkish supervision

  • The autonomous state of Lebanon was established.

    elected chamber of deputies and president, full domestic autonomy but there was a range of nationalist movements.
    A safe haven for the Maronites

  • Became the Lebanese Republic

    In order to protect Maronite allies against the Sunni Muslims
  • Period: to

    Quiet period

    Some Syrian oppostion- using non violent methods to remove the French

  • Alawite state and Jabal-al-Druze state were added to the state of Syria

  • Leon Blum (French Jewish PM) government in Syria- conciliatory to Syrian opposition

    Due to the growing costs of occupation. There was a draft treaty of preferential alliance which was accepted but not ratified by the national assembly.
  • Period: to

    Opposition to Nationalist Rule in Al-Jazira province

    Some agitation among Assyrians and Kurds, they were supported by Bedouins- its supporters wanted French troops in the area in the event of independence as they feared nationalists would replace the minority officials.

  • France gives Alexandretta to Turkey

    France did this to keep Turkey neutral in the upcoming war- opposed by Syrian nationalists but opposition was crushed by the French military.

  • France defeated by Nazis- Vichy collaborative government established

    Syria is now a risk to Britain as Vichy France controlled Syrian airbases and therefore could access the Suez canal and Palestine.

  • Anglo-French relations were reasonably cordial at the time of mutual need (WW2)

    Despite the relations being cordial, they were still characterised by distrust, suspicion, envy and greed. French policy in the Middle East became driven by a desire for revenge against British humiliation. Both Britain and France were increasingly out of step of international views of imperialism.

  • Britain and the Free French (De Gaulle) invade and occupy Nazi controlled Syria

  • De Gaulle promise Lebanon and Syria full independence

    De Gaulle was forced by Britain to grant independence to Syria and Lebanon- Churchill had signed the Atlantic charter (ensured self determination for the oppressed) with Roosevelt to ensure US support in the war

  • The Liberation of France from Vichy control

    -Churchill helped De Gaulle free Syria and he didn't want the Nazis to access airbases, oilfields or the canal
    -Churchill then made De Gaulle offer Lebanon and Syria independence as he had signed the Atlantic Charter with America (self-determination for the oppressed)
    -this ensured American support against the Nazis

  • Britain force France to hold elections in Lebanon and Syria

    -France use force to stop elections in Lebanon
    -Britain support Lebanese govt to ensure Palestinian support (Arabism)
    -Despite the Free French coup vs Lebanon, Churchill forced De Gaulle to release and reinstate officials

  • Stern Gang aligns themselves with Free French against Britain

    Britain was considered too 'pro-Arab' - a common cause for Zionists and De Gaulle

  • De Gaulle actively helps the Stern Gang

    Free France provides the Stern Gang with financial support, safe refuge, arms, training and intelligence to target British officials
    EG- Lord Moyne killed in Cairo

  • Free French revenge takes the form of supporting Zionist militants

    France begin supporting Zionist militant groups who were anti-British in Palestine.
  • Period: to

    Free French tried to not fulfil their promises of independence

  • Syrian nationalists (Shukri al-Quwatli and Al-Khouri) join forces against France

  • International pressure (USA and Britain) forced France to grant full independence

  • Last French troops left Syria and Lebanon

    France are very bitter as Britain still controls Palestine, Egypt, Iraq and Transjordan

  • France begin to support Zionist terrorists

    In order to undermine British presence in Palestine