Group Members: Jenny Madrid, Lauren Nguyen, & Rochelle Trachier

1. Egypt Group Members: Jenny Madrid, Lauren Nguyen, & Rochelle Trachier Decolonization

2. Decolonization **Decolonization came about basically because: a. After WWII, European countries lacked the wealth and political support necessary to hold back revolts b. Powers of the U.S and Soviet Union against colonialism

3. Background • In 1952, the last of British kings of Egypt was overthrown • Egyptians were • 1) illiterate • 2) poorly paid • 3) largely ignored laborers/rural farmers Information

4. Dinshawai Incident Wife of prayer leader British Soldiers

5. Social • **Before Revolution headed by Nasser • 70% of cultivable land owned by 6% of population • 98% peasants malnourished • British interference in all domestic affairs • .5% of population (Feudalists/capitalists) dominated society; the majority, consisting of peasants, craftsmen, merchants, and laborers, suffered from limited ownership, low incomes, low education rate, health neglected (98% w/ eye diseases), and poverty.

6. Social • **After Revolution • People gained stature and rights • Revolutionary principles based on rights of Egyptian people • Better education; jobs • More distribution of wealth

7. Economy Impacts of Decolonization • Due to growing population limited arable land for agriculture • Warm weather supplies enough water for several crops a year • Agriculture: sugar and cotton; (others) rice, beans, sugarcane. • Nile valley fertile land • Natural resource:petroleum, natural gas,crude oil in Gulf of Suez. • Oil and gas accounted for approximately 7% economy $$ • Government struggle at beginning of economic reform • massive investment in communications and transportation . • More trade—Suez Canal • Small farm raised cow, water buffalos, chicken • Manufacturing controlled by the state

8. Political • Egypt has no democracy • Old political parties were abolished in 1953 • 1954: the rise of Nasser to power • instrumental in getting the British to evacuate the Suez Canal • establishing a Marxist democracy in Egypt • Egypt was active in promoting Arab unity against Israel • The new government focused on land reform (destroying land as a power base and redistributing it to poor peasants) • It shifted capital and resources to industry and businesses, focusing on a restructuring process to create internal resources. • marked the beginning of an economic restructuring for domestic purposes - to provide stability and create a power base for the state.

9. Gamal Abdu l-Nasser • Scientific socialism- central planning guarantee that these resources would be utilized efficiently. Creating a new economic policy. Through Arab unity, wealth could be used to improve the standard of living throughout the middle east. Natural resources and major industries would have to be nationalized • Pan-Arabism- a belief in Arab unity • 1954: the rise of Nasser to power • instrumental in getting the British to evacuate the Suez Canal • establishing a Marxist democracy in Egypt

10. Gender Issues • **Gender Issues: • Before virtually no rights to women, after established social justice- no exploitation, cruelty, etc. • First vote in 1957 • Constitution on 1956 granted women equal rights • Employment, education, political rights-all gained