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Summary Middle East:
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- OCR
Thematic and depth/chronological notes/revision material for the OCR exam board history course
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British policy 1908-1948:British imperial aims pre-1914:
● Route to British colonies for trade
● Was route for transportation of people to fight war
● Protect the Suez Canal and Persian Gulf
● Oil in Iran used for British ships
Aims of France in 1900s:
● Wanted power in the Middle East to compete with Britain
● Wanted to trade
Aims of USA:
● Before 1945 the USA was not interested in the Middle East. They left it to Britain to
safeguard Western interests in that region
● After 1945 they were interested in Zionism and protecting the Jews
Aims of USSR:
● Wanted to protect their southern borders
● Spread communism
McMahon Hussein Letters 1915:
● British High Commissioner, Sir Henry McMahon and Sharif of Mecca, Sharif Hussein
exchange of letters
● The British promised to recognise Arab independence if Hussein launched a revolution
against the Ottoman empire
● In 1916 Faisel, son of Sharif of Mecca raised an army and began the Arab Revolt by
disrupting the supply chain to Turkish leaders
Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916:
● Secret trade between France and Britain to divide up the Middle East between themselves
● Contradicted what Britain promised Sharif Hussein and Arabs saw this as British betrayal
● They did this because WW1 was not going well and both countries wanted to maintain
power in the Middle East and keep a good alliance with one another
● France had Syria and Lebanon
● Britain had Iraq, Transjordan and Palestine
Balfour declaration 1917:
● Public statement issued by Britain, supporting a national home for Jewish people in
Palestine
● Done by Arthur Balfour, British foreign secretary to gain Zionist allies, e.g Chaim Weizmann
who was a lecturer at Manchester University. Was valuable because he could synthesise
acetone which was essential for making explosives which was previously imported from
Germany
, League of Nations:
● Britain and France were granted countries by the League of Nations to govern until the Arab
people were considered ready to govern themselves
● France was given Syria and Lebanon
● Britain was given Palestine, Transjordan and Iraq
British mandates:
● Iraq: oil in Iraq made it important to British economy. Iraqi nationalists rebelled against
British in 1920 but this uprising was crushed. The Iraqi Revolution 1920 provoked nationalist
sentiment. Faisal (man who led Arab Revolt) was throned in 1921 because Britain wanted
Iraq to be tied to Britain despite being independent. Iraq was granted independence in 1932
but Britain still controlled foreign policy, 2 air bases, and oil through a British owned Iraq
petroleum company
● Transjordan: independence was recognised in 1923, but British troops remained there under
a commander. Despite independence, the British still remained in control of Transjordan
foreign policy. Amir Abdullah received financial support from Britain to develop Transjordan.
Admitted to the UN in 1946 after gaining complete independence
● Egypt: in 1919 a nationalist was arrested which caused the Revolution of 1919. As a result,
a nationalist party emerged called Wafd. in 1922 Egypt was declared independent but
British kept control of foreign policy, military bases and the Suez Canal. Wafd Party’s main
aim was to achieve full independence; in 1936 Egypt was recognised as an independent
state although Britain controlled some bases
● Palestine: in 1920 Britain was given Palestine as a mandate by the UN. The Arabs were
angry as they felt British leaders just replaced the Turks
Relations with Faisal and Iraq:
● Britain humiliated Faisal when allowing France to dethrone him in Syria
● But after giving him power in Iraq through Lawrence of Arabia’s support Britain throned him
as king of Iraq
● Despite granting Iraq independence in 1932, Britain controlled 2 airbases and oil
● Iraqis were dissatisfied with continued British interference and control but Faisal continued
protecting British interests
British Egypt:
● Britain controlled Egypt because of the importance of the Suez Canal
● In 1919 a nationalist was arrested sparking nationwide protests, known as the Revolution of
1919. Demonstrations were crushed by the British but the Wafd Party emerged, seeking
independence
● Independence was announced in 1922 but it the British still controlled vital areas
● In 1936 independence was granted after the Egyptians were looking to rise up to the British
like Mussolini did in Italy which scared the British. The second reason was that the king died
and his popular son Farouk succeeded him. The British created a new treaty in 1936 which
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