Bell Ringer: What were some of the events that we said led up to current situations in the Middle East?

Western Powers Break Up Western Powers control imperialized regions, control governments, and integrate western ideals. The French Withdraw: – Syria and Lebanon: France gains control after WW1 from the Vichy Government. After several bloody battles with Arab Nationalists, French Troops withdraw. – Independence In mid-1940’s.

The French: – Africa: Algeria: – At the heart of the French colonial empire. – Elect rep. to French National Assembly in Paris. – Voting restrictions on Muslim Arabs. – The Colons- 10% pop; own most land/industry. – Independence: » Algerian National Liberation Front November 1, 1954 Very Bloody! Charles de Gulle Algeria Independence, 1962

The British Withdraw: – Creation of Israel: 1939; British reverse the Balfour Decision. – Which pledged to a Jewish national homeland and the creation of an Arab Palestine State. – The Holocaust » Stranded Jews » Britain does not allow Holocaust survivors to resettle in Palestine Extreme Zionist Groups: – 1946, Menachem Begin (The Irgun) » Blow up King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

The British: – Britain gives Palestine mandate to the UN. In Un-plan for ½ Jewish, ½ Arab state – Pro: Zionists – Con: The Arabs May 1948: Israel Declared Independence. – Chaim Azriel Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion Arabs wage war against Israel. – Israelis WIN! – million immigrants Kibbutz- a Farming technique

The British: – Egypt: Egypt also wanted independence. British presence in Egypt & Sudan after the war. – , failed attempts to remove British. King Farouk 1 to Gamal Abdel Nasser (1952) 1954; G.B. evacuates the Suez Base and allows free elections in Sudan. – Nasser's reforms: land reforms, industrialization, greater government control over the economy, and expanded women’s rights. His efforts to modernize Egypt were great but it was when he sought aid from the East and West… that we are led to the Suez Crisis.

The Suez Canal Crisis Pre-Crisis: – 1955, arms agreement with Czechoslovakia. – US and Britain offer to help Nasser pay for his Aswan High Dam project on the Nile. Nasser hesitated. The Crisis: – Fund the dam from the Canal revenues. – NO Israeli ships! – Great Britain, France, and Israel plan to overthrow Nasser. – President D. Eisenhower was worried that Soviets were going to get involved. Britain agrees to withdraw. UN ties up loose ends.

The Aswan Dam Improve Egypt’s economic structure. – 1970 – Captures the waters from the Nile’s yearly floods. – 150 cubic meters of water. Irrigation: – Over a million acres have been converted into farmland. Power: – Hydro-Electric Power Cons: – The Nile does not flood yearly anymore. Silt