starter activity

Map showing British Empire at its height in early twentieth century. If you were a school child at that time and looked at the map on the classroom wall, how would you feel ?

British overseas territories today. How would the same school child in the early 1900s feel about this map if they could have seen it?

Your task. Pin the tail on Suez! Where do you think the Suez Canal was on this map?

The Suez CrisisGCSE coursework

Source paper

What was the Suez Canal What was the Suez Canal ??

The Suez Canal opened to The Suez Canal opened to traffic in November 1869 traffic in November 1869

It was built by Frenchman It was built by Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps using Ferdinand de Lesseps using Egyptian forced labour; an Egyptian forced labour; an estimated 120,000 workers estimated 120,000 workers died during construction died during construction

It stretches 192km (120 It stretches 192km (120 miles) between the miles) between the Mediterranean and the Red Mediterranean and the Red Sea Sea

It is 300m (984ft) wide at its It is 300m (984ft) wide at its narrowest point narrowest point

The Suez Canal reduced the The Suez Canal reduced the sea route to Asia by 6,000 sea route to Asia by 6,000

kmkm

Both the Panama and Suez Both the Panama and Suez Canals greatly improved Canals greatly improved

world trade.world trade.

Why is the canal so Why is the canal so important?important?

By 1955 approximately two-thirds of By 1955 approximately two-thirds of Europe's oil passed through the canal Europe's oil passed through the canal

The waterway closed 1967 due to the The waterway closed 1967 due to the Six Day War, reopened 1975 Six Day War, reopened 1975

About 7.5% of world sea trade is About 7.5% of world sea trade is carried via the canal today carried via the canal today

Receipts from the canal July 2005 to Receipts from the canal July 2005 to May 2006 totalled $3,246m May 2006 totalled $3,246m

In 2005, 18,193 vessels passed through In 2005, 18,193 vessels passed through the canal the canal

Your taskYour task

Read section one of the handout and Read section one of the handout and answer these questions:answer these questions:

1. How did Prime Minister Anthony Eden view the position of Great Britain in the world?

2. What problems was the British Empire facing in the 1950s?

Section oneSection one

GB was in Eden’s GB was in Eden’s view still a great view still a great imperialimperial nation, an nation, an influential figure in influential figure in world politicsworld politics

Empire under Empire under threat, e.g. Ghana, threat, e.g. Ghana, Nigeria; India Nigeria; India already given already given independenceindependence

Anthony Eden

Your taskYour task

Read section two of the handout and Read section two of the handout and answer these questions:answer these questions:

3. Why was Eden suspicious of the 3. Why was Eden suspicious of the new Egyptian President Gamal Abdel new Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser?Nasser?

4. Why was the canal important to 4. Why was the canal important to Britain?Britain?

Section twoSection two Eden suspected Eden suspected

Nasser would be the Nasser would be the Mussolini of the Mussolini of the Middle EastMiddle East

Nasser was a Nasser was a nationalist – nationalist – implications for implications for imperialists like GBimperialists like GB

Canal was of limited Canal was of limited strategic importance strategic importance but of growing but of growing economic significanceeconomic significance

Mussolini, Italian dictator in early

twentieth century

President Nasser

Your taskYour task

Read section three of the handout Read section three of the handout and answer these questions:and answer these questions:

5. Who else apart from the British were involved in the crisis and why?

6. What was Eden’s plan? 7. What was the flaw with his plan? 8. How did the Americans react

when they heard the news?

Section threeSection three France- had built France- had built

Suez, but also Egypt Suez, but also Egypt had sponsored had sponsored Algerian rebelsAlgerian rebels

Israel – wanted to Israel – wanted to retaliate for attacks retaliate for attacks by Palestinians by Palestinians supported by Egyptsupported by Egypt

US not informed of US not informed of plan, refused its plan, refused its supportsupport The military plan

Your taskYour task

Read section 4 and answer the Read section 4 and answer the following questions:following questions:

9. List the effects of Suez on British 9. List the effects of Suez on British foreign policy for Britain.foreign policy for Britain.

GB lost sight of Cold War tensions in GB lost sight of Cold War tensions in Europe – Hungarian UprisingEurope – Hungarian Uprising

Confirmed GB had lost its global Confirmed GB had lost its global prominenceprominence

GB moved closer to US, France to GB moved closer to US, France to Europe in foreign policy planningEurope in foreign policy planning

Eden resigned Macmillan new PM