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 sta...