-
Ferdinand de Lesseps gains concession to build Suez Canal
-
Period: to
Desire to maintain existing possessions + economic influence
Led to formalisation of control
1890s - Formal British expansions accelerated -
Suez Canal Company established
Ran for 99 years -
Work began to build Suez Canal
-
Period: to
US Civil War
Lack of cotton from US led Britain to Egypt
Modernised Khedive Ismail Pasha's rule -
Khedive Ismail Pasha into power
Committed to modernisation
Irrigation, railways, schools. street lighting, Suez Canal -
Suez Canal built
Cut route to India by 6000 miles
British sceptical - thought Canal would be unable to accommodate large ships
Reduced profits of traders in Cape -
Period: to
40% of Egypt's imports coming from Britain
-
Disraeli 44% of shares
Ismail Pasha had debts so sought a buyer in shares
Sold for £4 million
France still had larger shares but British had greater control -
Caisse de la Dette Publique
Help manage Egypt's debt
France, Britain, Austria, Italy
Prioritised paying loans to European govs
Say in how Egypt allocated national budget -
Charles Gordon governer-general of Sudan
-
Khedive Tewfiq
Ismail Pasha deposed by Ottoman Sultan - domestic + Anglo-French pressure
British money kept economy afloat therefore Lord Dufferin (Brit Commissioner) has considerable influence
Taxes imposed, army cut by 2/3
Increased unemployment
Nationalist rebellions by Arabi Pasha - had to appoint allies to gov - was fiercely anti-British -
Muhammad Ahmed declared himself Mahdi
-
Arabi Pasha coup against Khedive
-
Egypt + Sudan Client State
Client state - has its own ruler but strong British independence which limited ruler's independence -
Alexandria Uprising
50 Europeans + 125 Egyptians killed
Further revolts- convinced Gladstone to send naval forces - killed hundreds of civilians + reduced defensive forts
Arabi Pasha declared war - was successful at Kafr el-Dawwar but Sir Garnet Wolseley (Brit commander in chief) secured canal
British retook Cairo + restored Tewfiq -
Mahdists controlled area surrounding Khartoum
Sought to liberate Sudan -
Arabi Pasha captured
Following Battle of Tel el-Kebir
Sentenced to be shot but instead exiled to Ceylon -
Evelyn Baring Consul-General
Tewfiq forced to create gov amenable to British
Employed Brit military personnel
Relied on British advisors -
Joint Anglo-Egyptian military expedition
Command of Col. William Hicks
Hicks killed -
Evacuation of Anglo-Egyptian troops
Gladstone reluctant for further conflict -
Convention of London
International loan for Egyptian gov
Two further members to Caisse de la Dette
Veiled protectorate -
Anglo-Egyptian forces overrun
Entire garrison killed
Gordon decapitated
Gladstone anxious for further loss of life