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22 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Why was the Suez Canal important? |
- British government was main shareholder of Suez Canal Company. - Vital trading route linking Mediterranean to Middle East. - Valuable source of income. |
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How did Britain and USA attempt to control/ally with Nasser? |
- In 1955, they agreed to help finance the Aswan High Dam Project. |
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When was aid for the Aswan High Dam Project withdrawn and why? |
- In July 1956 in hope of weakening Nasser's communist links. |
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When was the Suez Canal nationalised by Egypt? |
- 26th July. |
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Why did the US Government try to distance themselves from support for military intervention? |
- President Eisenhower wanted to be re-elected in the November US Presidential election. |
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What was the Sevres Protocol? |
- Secret agreement when Eden and Selwyn Lloyd held secret discussions with French and Israeli officials planning a military operation to recover the canal. |
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When did Britain withdraw from Suez and why? |
- 8th November. - Aborted due to run on the pound as 15% of Britain's dollar reserves evaporated through American pressure. |
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What were the causes of the Suez Crisis? |
-Long term British involvement in Egypt and imperialist attitudes. -Role of Eden. -Long term rise of Egyptian/Arab nationalism. -Role of Nasser. -Cold War context. |
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How did British involvement in Egypt and imperialist attitudes help cause the Suez Crisis? |
- Government still saw Britain as a great power with worldwide influence. - Rift between Britain and Egypt. |
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How did the role of Eden help cause the Suez Crisis? |
- He disliked Nasser and Egyptian nationalism. Held imperialist views of Britain's role. - Formed Baghdad Pact in 1955, Nasser was hostile to this Pact. |
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What was the Baghdad Pact? |
- Formed in 1955. - Defensive alliance initially between Britain and Iraq, later joined by Iran and Pakistan. - Was a way of maintaining influence in Middle East and exclude Soviet influence. |
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How did the long term rise of Egyptian/Arab nationalism help cause the Suez Crisis? |
- increase in anti-Britsh feeling with defeat of Egyptian forces in Arab-Israeli was of 1948-49. - Nasser's ambition: pan-Arab coalition of states. Encouraged Arab leaders to resist imperial influences. |
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How did the role of Nasser help cause the Suez Crisis? |
- was a reformer, a moderniser and intolerant of British imperialism and believed in Egyptian nationalism. - didn't want to be subservient to western imperialism, so established closer links with USSR. |
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How did the Cold War context help cause the Suez Crisis? |
- Nasser received weapons from Czechoslovakia. - Recognised communist China in 1956. - Soviet backing for Arab nationalists. |
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How did Conservative attitudes change? |
- Initially determined Nasser wouldn't go unpunished. An Egypt Committee formed to plan military solution. - Became critical of invasion. |
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How did Labour Party opinion change? |
- Firstly, in favour of military action. - September, Gaitskell would only support action endorsed by UN. |
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How did public opinion change? |
- Firstly, were in favour of action due to patriotic support and anti-American sentiment. - Later, became more divided. |
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How did World Opinion change? |
- Most countries wanted diplomatic solution. Eisenhower against military action. - Britain denounced as international aggressor in General assembly of UN. - Commonwealth countries, India and Canada, criticised action. |
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What was the impact of the Suez Crisis on Eden and the Conservative Government? |
- Macmillan restored unity and confidence of Conservative Party. - Eden's reputation destroyed. |
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How damaged was Britain by Suez? |
- Complete humiliation: shown as weak militarily and economically. - Strained relations with US. - Resignation of PM. - Strengthened Nasser's position. - Blockage of Canal, until April 1957. - Reduction of oil exports to Western Europe. - British moral superiority undermined, damaging their status. - Damaged Relations with French, felt they had been let down. |
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What were the longer term consequences of Suez? |
- Realisation that imperialism no way forward for Britain. - Increasing dependency of Arab nations upon aid from USSR. - Globalisation of Cold War, Arab nations turn to USSR. |
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Did Suez cause the end of the Empire? |
- Yes, maintenance of Empire impossible due to British inability to act alone (reliant on US). - No, inevitable due to nationalist movements. |
