-Origins/over Views of Egypt -Egypt and World War II -Nasser’s Early Year -Free Officers’ Movement -Post-War Egypt

Danica Riedel Michaela Martens Kelsey McCall Kylee Martens Clare Simmons Aliza Lieberman- Barnard

The British government was hugely influential in Egyptian politics. In order to secure its position in WWI Britain declared Egypt a British Protectorate. President Woodrow Wilson’s speech inspired Egyptian nationalists to go to Paris and plead the case for independence. In 1922 Egypt was recognized by Britain as a sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy. However their independence was limited, Britain retained control of the Suez Canal and could continue to have their army stationed there. The Wafd party and the Muslim brotherhood were established. After the King’s death Britain negotiated a treaty with the election winner, the Wafd party. It allowed Britain’s troops in the Canal Zone for another 20 years and Egypt became part of the League of Nations. Many Egyptians were disappointed by the treaty and the Muslim brotherhood gained more support.

Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1517 to In 1882 the British Army occupied Egypt in order to protect the Suez Canal. Then in 1936 an Anglo-Egyptian Treaty provided gradual withdrawal of British forces, except for those that would still protect the Suez Canal. At beginning of WWII, the British Army had 36,000 men guarding the canal and the Arabian oil fields. Egypt served with Axis powers with the outbreak of World War II but remained technically neutral until near the end of the war Italians first brought the war to Egypt in 1940 but were repelled by the British Would become the arena of one of the most decisive battles of war, the El Alamein, and also Egypt played a pivotal role in providing the British with supplies. Britain didn’t want to lose Egypt, so Winston Churchill, the prime minister, declared that they would defend Egypt. When Germans threatened to bomb Cairo, the British government issued a warning to respond.

Organization of army officers 1942; Founded by Nasser after being promoted to captain Members were frustrated with the King and the government for not standing up to the British Careful to remain loyal to King Farouk Moderate ideology, created a Six Point Plan: The liquidation of colonialism and the Egyptian traitors who supported it The end of domination of power by wealth The liquidation of feudalism The establishment of social equality The building up of a powerful army The establishment of free elections and a healthy democratic atmosphere

Egypt had suffered badly in the economic depression during the 1930’s; most of the population lives under poverty level Average income was 1/10 of Great Britain More than 77% of the population over 5 years old was illiterate Life expectancy was 36 Great Britain was 69 Prime Minister called for re- negotiation of the Treaty of 1936 and complete withdrawal of British Troops Call for Unification in Sudan and Egypt British didn’t respond positively to proposals and believed that the invasion of Egypt be the Axis Powers in 1940 more than justified the cautious original terms of the 1936 treaty Social Conditions Political Conditions

Mimmack, Brian, Daniela Senes, and Eunice Price. History 20th Century World. Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education LImited, Print.