The development of imperialism, c1857- c1890: The Suez Canal and Egypt
Britain and Egypt:
Britain, France and Egypt in the early 19th century:
The Suez Canal- new passage to India:
The establishment of British control in Egypt:
Disraeli and the Suez Canal shares:
The Sudan
Egypt: cotton good quality = attract new sources vital raw material
British: invest production Egyptian cotton/ modernising programme Khedive Isma’il Pasha
British interest: British mills starved raw cotton
1870s: 40% Egypt’s import from Britain
1861-65: US Civil War
1863: Isma’il Pasha leader
Modernisation initiated Ottoman ruler 1805-48
Muhammed Ali Pasha professional army extended Egyptian rule Sudan
Irrigation
Railways to schools
Street lighting
Suez Canal Egypt- connect Mediterranean with Red Sea/ Arabian Peninsula
18th century: key route India- British hostile Muslim rulers Egypt
Suez Canal: British seafarers/ merchants trade India and China
India: 6,000 miles shorted than via the Cape
1857: British control Egypt inconceivable (British traders important route Europe and Asia)
Muhammed Ali ruled until 1848
1848: British aim alienate Ottoman Empire against ambitions Muhammed Ali (rid Turkish rule)
1805: British forced out Egyptian leader Muhammed Ali
French support Egyptians = increased economic base
1801: British forced Napoleon troops withdraw
Muhammed Ali succeeded by Isma’il 1863
Napoleon commercial importance Egypt
1798: troops undermine British protect French trading interests
Suez Canal: reducing profits British trades Cape operated warehouses storing goods
1875: Isma’il Pasha increasing debt- buy canal £4 million
British: not many shares, skeptical canal unsuitable large ships
Benjamin Disraeli: control passage India/ income from shipping tariffs
1859-1869: Work Suez Canal- shares made internationally
France: large number shares
Suez Canal Company set up 1858 (run Suez Canal 99 years)
1854-56: Ferdinand de Lesseps concession from Egypt create company construct canal for international shipping
There was political outcry BUT investment proved advantageous for Britain
Disraeli borrowed necessary £4 million provide Britain controlling stake in company without securing parliamentary consent
Benjamin Disraeli: privately secured funds buy Isma'il's stock (1875)
William Gladstone: intervene, British naval forces bombard Alexandria
Arabi Pasha declared war
Success at Kafr el-Dawwar against British forces heading Cairo
June 1882: Alexandria Egypt violence 50 Europeans killed
British Commander-in-Chief Sir Garnet Wolseley
Secure Suez Canal
Defeat Arabi’s forces at Tel el-Kabir
Tewfiq appoint Arabi’s allies’ government positions (anti-European) = British concern trade/ investment, security 100,000 Europeans living Egypt/ canal route to India
British re-take Cairo and restore Tewfiq (puppet ruler)
Increase unemployment = nationalist rebellion under Colonel Arabi Pasha and army officers
Major Evelyn Baring Consul-General
Tewfiq create government amenable British, employ British military personnel to supervise army, rely British advisors
Taxes imposed on food/ goods
Army reduced by 2/3
1885 Convention London: British influence Egypt confirmed- international loan for Egyptian government
Thin veil Ottoman/ local rule- British administrative control
Client state: ‘veiled protectorate’- Baring ruled behind screen Egyptian ministers aided group English administrators
Tewfiq new Khedive
British money/ support Egypt afloat
Commissioner Lord Dufferin influence
1879: Isma’il deposed by Ottoman Sultan (result domestic/ Anglo-French pressure)
Gladstone reluctant drawn into conflict ordered General Gordon oversee evacuation British/ Egyptian troops from Khartoum (1884)
British forces overrun in January 1885
1883: British-Egyptian military expedition under command Colonel William Hicks launched counter-attack against Mahdists (Hicks killed)
Garrison killed and Gordon beheaded during attack
1882: Mahdists had complete control over area surrounding Khartoum
Gladstone anxious avoid further loss life/ money no obvious gain
Mahdists sought to liberate Sudan from outside rule (Egyptian or British)
1896: another campaign launched assert Britain's control over Mahdists and Sudan
Mahdi transformed political movement into jihadist army
Opposition from Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad (June 1881 proclaimed himself Mahdi- saviour of mankind)
Colonel Charles Gordon sent to act as Governor-General of Egyptian-administered Sudan (behalf 'puppet' Khedive Isma'il 1877-80)