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)