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Imperialism in Egypt
At the turn of the twentieth
century, the United States began to expand
overseas. It contended with other countries
for influence around the world. Britain
and France had been waging a similar
imperialist contest since the mid-1800s.
Egypt was one center of their competition.
The timeline below shows some of the
main events.
1859 A private French company begins
to construct a canal to connect the
Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The
construction is opposed by British
diplomats. They fear that France will
dominate this new route to the East.
1869 Egypt’s role in the building of the
canal practically bankrupts the already
poor nation. The canal is completed.
1875 The Egyptian ruler, Ismail Pasha,
has to sell Egypt’s shares in the canal to the British, who now control the canal.
1876
Great Britain and France set up a commission to handle Egyptian finances.
1879 Great Britain and France oversee the removal of Ismail Pasha. Tewfik Pasha is set up as
head of the government, but the French and British actually control the nation.
1882 Egyptians try unsuccessfully to throw out the British. Great Britain occupies and takes
over Egypt.
1888
The Suez Canal Convention leads to a declaration of neutrality for the Suez Canal.
1898 Challenging the British claims, France occupies Fashoda in the Sudan. The British force
France to withdraw. France gives up all claims in the area.
1914
Great Britain makes Egypt a British protectorate.
1919
Egyptians rebel against Great Britain. Talks on Egyptian independence begin.
1922 Egypt becomes independent, although Great Britain will maintain a strong presence there
for more than 30 years.
Why was the location of the Suez Canal important?
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The Struggle for the Panama Canal
1 While Americans had long adhered to the belief that it was to not exert power and
control over other nations and peoples, the enormous economic growth of the United States in the
late 1800s inspired many people to begin to think of the U.S. as a world power. This economic
imperialism encouraged U.S. business leaders to promote access to the Pacific via a Central
American canal. Supporters of military sea power also urged the U.S. government to consider the
canal as an important strategic move for national security.
2 Under the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, the dreams of U.S.
imperialists were given free reign. Roosevelt was fond of quoting a West African proverb, “Speak
softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far” as his motto for pursuing his goals of expanding
United States influence in Latin America. This mode of diplomacy became popularly known as
“Big Stick” diplomacy.
3 With the passage of the Hay-Pauncefort Treaty in 1901, the British government gave up
its right to joint construction of a canal through the Isthmus of Panama and ceded exclusive rights
to the United States. In 1903, under the terms of the Hay-Herran Treaty, the United States offered
Colombia (which then occupied Panama) $10 million and a yearly payment of $250,000 for a 99year lease for construction of a canal. Colombia was hesitant to cooperate with the United
States’s desire for a canal and rejected the Hay-Herran Treaty.
4 Events in Panama were in Roosevelt’s favor, though. Panamanian leaders who
supported the building of the canal began to plot against the Colombian government. On
November 3, 1903, the Panamanians began their revolution. While U.S. warships blocked
Colombian troops from landing in Panama, the rebels easily took over and declared Panama an
independent nation. With unusual speed the U.S. Senate ratified the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty on
November 18, 1903, which granted the United States exclusive canal rights. Construction on the
canal began in 1904 and was finished 10 years later.
(You can read more about the Panama Canal in your textbook pages 691 – 693)
(text book page 692)
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(text book page 693)
Geography Activity
the correct label.
Identify each of the following by writing the numbers on the map next to
12. __________ Pacific Ocean
13. __________ Caribbean Sea
14. __________ Panama Canal Zone
15. __________ Panama
22.4 Review Questions
True and False
__________1. The United States needed a canal across Central America so that it could move its
navy more quickly between the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.
__________2. As U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt thought the Panama Canal was a bad idea.
__________3. The United States gained control of the canal zone by discouraging a revolution in
Panama.
Completion
Dollar Diplomacy
William C. Gorgas
Roosevelt Corollary
6,000
yellow fever
4. Tropical diseases such as ____________________ caused many problems for workers building
the canal.
5. Dr. ____________________ organized a huge effort to rid the canal route of mosquitoes.
6. Some ____________________ lives were lost in building the canal, and it cost well over $600
million between the French and American efforts.
7. The ____________________ was added to the Monroe Doctrine, establishing the United States
as the “police officer” of the Western Hemisphere. The ____________________ said that the
United States would not allow any European nation to colonize the American continents.
8. President Taft’s policy, called ____________________, emphasized using U.S. economic
power and business investment to influence Latin American governments.
Short Answer
9. Why was the location of the Panama Canal important?
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10. How did the United States benefit from the construction of the Panama Canal? What were the
drawbacks?
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11. Compare and Contrast the actions of Great Britain and the situation in Egypt to the actions of
America and the situation in Panama.
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Analyzing Political Cartoons
1. What do the ships in the foreground represent?
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2. What does the image of Roosevelt slinging dirt on Bogota symbolize?
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