British Occupation Of Egypt History Essay Research

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British Occupation in Egypt
Outline TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc26974975 \h 2Causes of British occupation PAGEREF _Toc26974976 \h 2To protect the new shipping route (Suez Canal) PAGEREF _Toc26974977 \h 2To ensure it recouped its loan it had given the British government PAGEREF _Toc26974978 \h 3For economic exploitation PAGEREF _Toc26974979 \h 4To redeem its prestige PAGEREF _Toc26974980 \h 4How the occupation was a characteristic example of late nineteenth century British Imperialism PAGEREF _Toc26974981 \h 5Economic Exploitation PAGEREF _Toc26974982 \h 6Cultural Dominance PAGEREF _Toc26974983 \h 6Strategic Political Alliances PAGEREF _Toc26974984 \h 7Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc26974985 \h 8
Introduction
In the 19th century, Egyptian government got into a debt because of its extravagant spending. It was at the time under the ottoman empire king, Muhammad Ali for the better part of the century. After opening the Suez Canal in 1869, the government had a new source of income through charging ships passage to avoid taking the longer route through south Africa. It was an important shipping route and the Egyptian government had got important source of income. However, poor management soon landed the government in problems. It was heavily in debt and it was fast descending into civil war. The Egyptian government sold all its shares of the Suez Canal to the British in 1875 though the situation did not improve. As the country was on the brink of war, the British empire and the French empire send their navies to Egypt in 1882 primarily to protect the important shipping route. British did not leave until in 1956 when Egypt won its independence. The reasons for occupation of Egypt by the European forces are varied and they are largely similar to the reasons of British imperialism in the continent.
Causes of British occupation
To protect the new shipping route (Suez Canal)
It is plausible that British occupied Egypt because it was an important shipping routeCITATION Jos12 \p 11 \l 1033 (Obieta 11). It is also likely that since they had purchased all shares and rights to the Suez Canal, the British were protecting their investments in the country. Both these reasons are plausible and they point to the British seeking to ensure that its investments outside their country were protected. At the time, British had colonies in middle east and far east. The present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, became "the Indian Empire" and they had very healthy bilateral relationships with the British kingdom back in England. Previously, the trade necessitated that ships go around south Africa which added to the shipping time expenses and higher risks until the Suez Canal was constructed. As Egyptian economy was faltering, it was probable the country could descent to a civil war and the shipping route may be impassable over security issues and or costlier because it may have had to have different agreements with the warring factions in the war. It was therefore important for the region to be stable economically and politically for the British empire. The purchase of the canal did not improve things as the Egyptian government did not turn around their economy. Conversely, it increased ‘British stake’ in the region as now it had a new asset to protect in the region.
To ensure it recouped its loan it had given the British government
When the British came to Egypt and assumed control of the government, it had strategic interests in ensuring that its loan was repaidCITATION Mar01 \p 1928 \l 1033 (Roberts 1928). The Egyptian government had borrowed large sums of money from the British and the French before 1882. It is estimated that the loan was close to $100 million CITATION Jon17 \l 1033 (Turner). Debts and poor political organization and management of the country’s resources had pushed the Egyptian economy to recession. At the time the ottoman empire claimed Britain was in recession and the British feared that their loan may never be repaid. Additionally, if the country descended into a civil war thing would get worse. At the time, the British kingdom also had strong bilateral trade with Khedive government in Egypt. In 1880, about 80% of all Egyptian exports arrived in Britain CITATION Jon17 \l 1033 (Turner). Thus, Egypt was a strategic partner whose economic and political problem would eventually impact the British especially economically. If all the goods that found their way to British from Egypt were cut out, that would have an inflationary impact on the British economy. Additionally, it would also pose a challenge of routing goods from Asia to England which would further affect the British economy. Thus, the occupation of the British in Egypt was a strategic intervention that had large implications on the British economy.
For economic exploitation
The British had noticed the potential of Egypt as an economic resource. Muhammad Ali had established a thriving cotton industry in Egypt before the British occupation in 1882 CITATION Men09 \l 1033 (Mentiply). The British saw a good opportunity in dominating Egypt and dominating the cotton industry. The Egyptian economy at the time was largely dependent on agriculture and as a country largely covered by desert, it depended on the Nile river. The Nile and the rich farmlands that surrounded it were economic resources that Egypt could exploit. The British had a strategic plan to convert Egypt into cotton farmland for the textile industry in England. The lands were fertile and the Nile river could be used to irrigate the farmland. It is partly the reason why British maintained that Nile and its basin to the south was its sphere of interest during the scramble and partition of Africa. The countries to the south of Egypt to the source of Nile river (Lake Victoria) were all taken by the British to ensure that the cotton industry they had established was sustainable. Therefore, British took control of Egypt as a strategic economic resource they could exploit in the future.
To redeem its prestige
To the British prestige and imperial domination over other places around the world was under attack in Egypt. The Alexandria rebellion and bombardment were a new dimension in the conflict in the region and was an important event that also influenced the British to occupy Egypt. First, during the rebellion, fifty Europeans were murdered and the British Consul was attacked CITATION Jon17 \l 1033 (Turner). The British believed that...