AbstractsHistory

Although the seed of Britain's interest in Egypt was planted with the French invasion of that country in 1798, it did not begin to bear the fruit of involvement in Egypt's internal affairs for another 75 years. Egypt's strategic geographical location across Britain's trade route to India, the political ambitions of Muhammad Ali, and finally the completion of de Lessep's project, the Suez Canal, culminated by Disraeli's purchase for Britain of the Egyptian government's share in the Canal – these were a few of the forces that moved Britain inexorably to their reluctant intervention in Egypt's internal affairs.In the 1880's the British were alarmed by the threat of Russian expansion toward India and French influence in Egypt which might disrupt Britain's lucrative Eastern trade position. These threats were less important, however, compared to a growing movement of nationalism in Egypt. The fear that the nationalists, harmless as their self-assertion proved later to be, might disturb Britain's control of the Suez Canal effected a turn-around in British attitude toward involvement in Egypt's government.Gladstone and those Liberal ministers of Parliament were faced with a choice between their own liberal consciences and Britain's security and prestige. It was a paradox that in the end it was they who occupied Egypt, with Gladstone in the unexpected role of invader. Although the role was unexpected and unwelcome, the importance of the Canal to Britain's economic and political empire overshadowed personal conscience and belief, and the Liberal members of British government acceded to the pressure of events that led to the occupation of Egypt.The motives of occupation were complex but the immediate impetus was a growing nationalist movement that threatened an end to foreign meddling in Egypt. The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze Britain's changing attitude and decision to intervene militarily in Egypt in 1882, and the timeliness of their occupation. The study analyzes the individual leaders and the role of the nationalist movement in affecting Britain's imperial policy and effecting a growing spirit of nationalism in Egypt.