Nasser and Egypt Group Members: Dannielle Perkins, Annie Parham, Pages:221-229 Group Members: Dannielle Perkins, Annie Parham, Sean Sele, and Tristan Tebeau

The Coup of 1952: Build Up Prime Minister Nahas Pasha abolished the treaty of 1936, when no agreement was reached between Egypt and Britain over the British occupation in the Canal Zone. The British government responded by suggesting a MEDO (Middle East Defense Organization) be put in place, but Egypt rejected this idea, seeing it as a way for the US, Britain, France, and Turkey to all occupy the Canal, rather than just Britain. After this, Egypt no longer cooperated with the British, boycotting Egyptian labor being used in the Canal Zone and stopping the flow of supplies. Map of the Canal Zone

Photo from Black Saturday General Erskine, of the British army, began violence in the Canal when he ordered tanks to fire on the headquarters of the auxiliary police, many people were hurt. Jan. 25, 1952 became known as “Black Saturday” when more than 700 buildings were attacked and looted and approximately 67 people were killed. This left both Egypt and Britain in a position in which neither wanted to make a political move in fear of the consequences. Photo from Black Saturday

The Coup The Free Officers of Egypt planned a coup to remove the king from power and on the evening of July 22, 1952 conducted it. They were motivated by the presidential election on Jan. 6, 1952, in which their own candidate, General Mohammad Naguib, won instead of the king’s. King Farouk left for exile in Europe, taking with him his family, luggage, and gold stolen from the Bank of Egypt, and a Regency Council was put in place until the prince was old enough to take power. The members of said council were Brigadier Rashad Muhana, Bahieddine Barakat Pasha, and Prince Mohammad Abdel Munim, all of whom were members of the Free Officers’ Movement.

Why was the coup successful? Discontent among the Egyptian people. The Muslim Brotherhood, Wafdists, the British and the USA all did not oppose the coup. Mohammad Naguib supported the Free Officers. The King did not have widespread support and was seen as corrupt. The people hoped that a change in power would remove the British from the Canal Zone. It was not a legal coup. It instead used the threat of force to make the King abdicate. Picture of the Canal

Domestic Policies Land shortage was still a problem, even though land reforms had been attempted in the past. The Wafd Party, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Communist Party were all popular before they were all replaced with a single party, The Liberation Rally. The Liberation Rally was led by Nasser In 1953 the monarchy was abolished and Egypt became a Republic with Nasser as Deputy Prime Minister Nasser had promised to restore democracy once the revolution gained power, but then didn’t for fear that the Capitalists would gain power again.

Popular unrest is used to call for change Nasser made promises to restore parliamentary government, lift the ban on political parties, end censorship, and facilitate the release of political parties. This caused consternation among much of the Egyptian population, many of whom feared that this would lead to the return of pre-revolutionary social and political elites. Nasser used his position to organize strikes, and was supported by workers and peasants because of this. Attempted assassination on Nasser The Muslim Brotherhood made an attempt on Nasser’s life in October1954. The response was a swift crackdown on the Brotherhood. Eight conspirators were sentenced  to death. Naguib was accused of conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood and was finally removed from office. In January of 1954, Nasser was appointed President by the RCC

Nasser Undermines Naguib Nasser: Steps to Power Nasser Undermines Naguib Naguib wanted to return to a parliamentary democracy Naguib wanted better relations with the Muslim brotherhood Naguib wanted to end military rule in Egypt Nasser called the events of 1952 a revolution, Naguib called it a coup Growing divisions between Nasser and Naguib eventually led to Naguib’s resignation in February of 1954. Unfortunately for Nasser, there was a faction in the army that favored Naguib, and he was soon reinstated, on the condition that Nasser was the Prime Minister.

Sources: Mimmack, Brian, Daniela Senes, and Price Eunice. "Gamal Abdel Nasser and Egypt."History: 20th Century World Authoritarian and Single-Party States. London: Pearson Baccalaureate , 2010. 221-229. Print. Map of the Canal Zone. N.d. n.p. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/short_history/sh19.html>. Black Saturday. N.d. n.p. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://mideasti.blogspot.com/2011/01/remembering-egypts-revolution- of-1919.html>. Nassar. N.d. n.p. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sixdaywar.co.uk/timeline.htm>.