Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Nationalism in North Africa and the Middle East
Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• French North Africa
• The Creation of Israel
• Changes in Egypt and Iran
• Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of the Suez Canal Crisis
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Nationalism in North Africa and the Middle East
Main Idea
The rise of nationalism in North Africa and the Middle East led to
independence for some countries and to conflicts with the West.
Reading Focus
• How did independence come to French North Africa?
• What events led to the creation of Israel?
• How did nationalism cause changes in Egypt and Iran?
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
French North Africa
After World War II, France faced growing nationalist movements in its
North African protectorates of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
Morocco and Tunisia
• Nationalist campaigns for
independence began to grow in
early, mid-1900s in both
countries
• Attempts by France to crack
down on movements led to
increasing unrest,
demonstrations, guerrilla wars
• Meanwhile Algeria also
struggling for independence
Independence
• Algeria home to large French
settler population, was more
important to the French
• French government concluded it
could not fight guerrilla wars in
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia at
same time
• Negotiated with nationalist
leaders in Morocco, Tunisia
• 1956, both countries granted
independence
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Algeria
Algeria
• 1830, France first took control of some areas in Algeria
• 1950s, more than 1 million European settlers in area, owned best land,
dominated economy, had grip on political power
National Liberation Front
• 1954, group of Algerian nationalists formed National Liberation Front (FLN)
• FLN began campaign of armed attacks against French targets
• French responded with mass arrests, raids on Muslim towns
Attacks on Settlers, Reprisals
• Next year FLN directly targeted French settlers; attacks killed more than 100
people in one city
• French forces, groups of settlers responded by attacking Muslims; between
1,200 and 12,000 Muslims killed in reprisal attacks
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
French Responses
Battle of Algiers
Change in Government
• Attacks set pattern for deadly war
in Algeria—FLN targeted French
civilians, French attacked Muslim
population
• French settlers in Algiers
increasingly angry over perceived
lack of support from French
government
• FLN launched campaign of
bombings, assassinations at
civilians, military in Algiers
• May 1958, French troops, mob of
settlers seized control in Algiers,
demanded change of government
in Paris
• French responded with harsh
counterterrorism campaign,
torturing suspected FLN members
• Summer 1957, FLN largely
defeated, but war not over
• Demands met; Charles de Gaulle
appointed prime minister in June
1958
• De Gaulle seen as strong supporter
of settlers of Algeria
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
De Gaulle
De Gaulle hoped to satisfy both French settlers,
Algerian nationalists
• Wanted to give Algeria limited degree of selfgovernment
– Faced violent reaction from French settlers, who did not want
France to give up any control
– Violent reaction also from nationalists, wanted full independence
• De Gaulle decided French rule could not be
maintained in Algeria
– February 1961, opened peace talks with FLN
– 1962, signed agreement granting Algeria independence
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Contrast
How was the struggle for independence in
Algeria different from the struggle in
Morocco and Tunisia?
Answer(s): The French government negotiated
with nationalist leaders in Morocco and Tunisia
and allowed them independence, but fought the
FLN to keep control of Algeria.
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
The Creation of Israel
• Nationalism led to the creation of Israel
• Late 1800s Jewish nationalist movement of Zionism growing
• Jews calling for an independent state in ancient homeland
British Mandate of Palestine
• After World War I, League of
Nations gave Britain control over
Palestine, required Britain to make
preparations for Jewish homeland
• After World War II, Jewish leaders
in Palestine pressed British to
create Jewish state
End of British Mandate
• 1947, Britain announced it was
giving up control of mandate,
turning matter over to the UN
• UN proposed to partition, or divide,
Palestine into Jewish state and
Arab state with Jerusalem under
international control
Jewish leaders accepted the proposal, but Arabs did not. Despite Arab
objections, the UN passed a resolution supporting the partition as valid.
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
Independence and War
• As British pulled out of Palestine, David Ben-Gurion, other Jewish
leaders, declared birth of democratic State of Israel, May 14, 1948
• Ben-Gurion later became Israel’s first prime minister
• Day after Israel declared independence, armies from Arab countries
of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Iraq invaded Israel, launching
first Arab-Israeli war
No Arab State
Gaza Strip, West Bank
• War lasted from May to December;
Arab armies soundly defeated
• Both Israel, neighboring Arab
countries seized, held land planned
for new Arab state
• Arab states negotiated cease-fire
agreements, but would not sign
permanent peace treaties
• One result: Arab state proposed by
UN did not come into existence
• Egypt controlled Gaza Strip,
Transjordan controlled territory
west of Jordan River known as
West Bank
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Refugee Problems
Arab-Israeli war caused massive refugee
problems
• By end of fighting around 700,000 Palestinian Arabs had
become refugees
• Fled or expelled from areas that Israel took control of, as
well as from general war, chaos
• Jewish refugees fled Arab countries and resettled in
Israel
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Summarize
What events led to the creation of Israel as
an independent state?
Answer(s): 1947: Britain announced it was giving
up control of the mandate; UN proposed to
partition Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab
state; 1948: Jewish leaders declared birth of the
State of Israel
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Changes in Egypt and Iran
• Israel’s victory had effects throughout the Arab world.
• The victory discredited many of the region’s leaders, and young
nationalist leaders came to power in places such as Egypt and Iran.
A New Government
Farouk Discredited
• 1922, Egypt gained
formal independence
from Great Britain
• Egyptian King Farouk
I strongly pro-British,
seen as dependent
on Britain for power
• Many believed
corruption in palace,
parliament, army
contributed to defeat
• Egypt’s loss in first
Arab-Israeli war
discredited Farouk,
leaders of Egypt’s
parliament
• Gap between rich,
poor in post
independence
government also
angered many
Egyptians
• However British
troops occupied Suez
Canal Zone
• 1936 treaty allowed
Britain to defend
Egypt if attacked
Growing Anger
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Nasser
• Out of dissatisfaction came 1952 military coup led by 34-year old
colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser; forced King Farouk out of power
• Nasser, followers abolished monarchy, created single government
party, undertook ambitious land reform program to gain support
among poor
Suez Crisis
• Nasser became most important figure in Arab world after
confrontation with Britain, France, Israel over Suez Canal
• Suez Crisis had roots in politics of the Cold War
• After Nasser came to power, refused to join Baghdad Pact, U.S.-led
alliance against communism in Middle East
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Growing Crisis
Dealing Arms
• Nasser requested western countries sell him arms; they refused
• Turned to Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia, signed arms deal
• U.S., Britain responded by refusing to loan Egypt money to build Aswan Dam
Nationalizing the Canal
• Nasser enraged that funding denied for building dam on Nile River
• Decided to nationalize, take control of, Suez Canal, which was owned by
international company controlled by Britain, France
Growing Hostility
• Nasser’s action celebrated as act of defiance by people in Arab world
• British, French outraged by seizure of property
• Hostility also growing between Egypt, Israel
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
Pan-Arabism
Attack on Egypt
• October 1956, Britain, France,
Israel launched coordinated
attack on Egypt
• Militarily defeated Egyptian
forces
• U.S. did not support actions,
which created tensions with
Soviet Union; pressured Britain,
France, Israel to withdraw,
which they did
Nasser Popular in Arab World
• Countries withdrew; Egypt left
in control of Suez Canal
• Suez Crisis had become great
victory for Nasser
• Nasser promoted PanArabism, or Arab unity
• Brought Egypt, Syria together
as United Arab Republic, but
Syria withdrew two years later
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
Conflict in Iran
When Mohammad Reza Pahlavi became shah of Iran in 1941,
British and Russian troops occupied parts of his country.
Conflict in Iran
Mosaddeq
• British-run company also
controlled Iran’s profitable oil
industry, kept most of profits
• 1951, Iranian parliament named
Mosaddeq prime minister, voted
to nationalize oil industry
• Iranian nationalists determined to
take control of country’s oil
resources, reduce power of shah,
establish constitutional monarchy
• Britain, U.S. called for boycott of
Iranian oil, preventing Iran from
selling much on world market
• Nationalists led by Mohammad
Mosaddeq, opponent of foreign
influence in Iran
• Mosaddeq worked to reduce
power of monarchy and placed
army forces under control of
government
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
Coups
Military Coup
• Many military officers upset with
reforms, joined coup to replace
Mosaddeq
Mosaddeq Overthrown
• Coup successful
• Mosaddeq overthrown, shah
returned to power
• Coup supported by U.S., Britain
Reforms
Reforms Opposed
• Shah began ambitious program
of reforms, including land and
literacy, women’s rights
• Shah continued to rule with iron
hand, secret police
• Iran’s industry, education,
health care improved
• Reforms opposed by
conservatives as moving away
from traditional Islamic values
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Africa and the Middle East
Section 3
Find the Main Idea
What changes occurred in Egypt and Iran,
and how were they related to nationalism?
Answer(s): Egypt—Nasser overthrew King
Farouk, who was seen as too pro-British;
promoted Pan-Arabism; Iran—nationalized oil
industry; U.S. and Britain supported overthrow of
Shah Mosaddeq, who had opposed foreign
influence