Suez Crisis Worksheets
Do you want to save dozens of hours in time? Get your evenings and weekends back? Be able to teach about the Suez Crisis to your students?
Our worksheet bundle includes a fact file and printable worksheets and student activities. Perfect for both the classroom and homeschooling!
Resource Examples
Click any of the example images below to view a larger version.
Fact File
Student Activities
Summary
- Background and Causes of the Crisis
- Key Players and Their Motivations
- Course of the Crisis
- Consequences and Aftermath
- Suez Crisis and the Cold War
Key Facts And Information
Let’s know more about the Suez Crisis!
The 1956 Suez Crisis, also known as the Second Arab-Israeli War, happened when Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal, which was an important waterway for global trade. This act angered Britain and France, who saw it as a threat to their interests. In a controversial move, they collaborated with Israel to seize control of the canal.
Israel attacked the Sinai Peninsula, prompting a swift military response from Britain and France, who sought to retake control of the Suez Canal. However, the invasion was met with international criticism, especially from the United States and the Soviet Union.
Background and Causes of the Crisis
- For many years, Egypt was under the control of Great Britain. The Suez Canal itself, a vital waterway connecting Europe to Asia, was seen as a symbol of this control.
- Before the Suez Canal, ships travelling between Europe and Asia had to make a long journey around the southern tip of Africa. The Suez Canal changed everything. It provided a much shorter and safer route, reducing travel time and costs. This made trade between the East and West faster, cheaper and more efficient.
- The Suez Canal wasn't just about trade; it also held strategic importance. Control of the canal meant control over a vital shipping route, giving a country political and military power. This is why the canal has been at the centre of international disputes and conflicts, including the Suez Crisis of 1956.
- For Egypt, the Suez Canal has been a source of both pride and controversy. It brought jobs and revenue, but also foreign interference. The struggle for control of the canal was a major part of Egypt's fight for independence and national identity.
- After World War II, there was a growing sense of nationalism in Egypt and a desire for independence. Gamal Abdel Nasser, who became Egypt's leader in 1954, wanted to free Egypt from foreign influence and assert its sovereignty.
- One of Nasser's biggest goals was to build the Aswan Dam. The dam would help control the flooding of the Nile River, provide electricity for the country and improve irrigation for agriculture. Nasser sought financial assistance from the United States and Britain for this ambitious project. Initially, they seemed willing to help, but things took a turn.
- Nasser's decision to buy weapons from Czechoslovakia, a Soviet ally, alarmed the West. This was the Cold War era, a time of intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The West saw Nasser's move as a sign that he might be aligning himself with the Soviet bloc. Nasser's recognition of communist China heightened this suspicion.
- The final straw came when the United States and Britain abruptly withdrew their funding for the Aswan Dam project. They cited concerns about Egypt's ability to repay the loan and its perceived shift towards the Soviet Union. Feeling betrayed and angered, Nasser retaliated by nationalising the Suez Canal. This meant that Egypt would take control of the canal from the company that owned it, which was primarily British and French.
- Britain and France relied heavily on the canal for trade and saw its nationalisation as a direct threat to their interests. Secretly, they collaborated with Israel, which had its own tensions with Egypt, and planned an invasion. Israel would attack first, and then Britain and France would intervene under the pretext of protecting the canal.
Key Players and Their Motivations
Egypt (led by Gamal Abdel Nasser)
- Nasser wanted to end British influence in Egypt and assert Egyptian control over its own affairs.
- The Aswan Dam was crucial for Egypt's economic future, promising flood control, electricity and improved irrigation.
- Nasser sought to position himself as a leader in the Arab world, challenging Western dominance in the region.
Great Britain (led by Prime Minister Anthony Eden)
- The Suez Canal was vital for British trade and access to its colonies in Asia.
- Britain wanted to assert its declining global power and influence.
- Eden saw Nasser's actions as aligning with those of the Soviet Union, a major threat during the Cold War.
France (led by Prime Minister Guy Mollet)
- France, like Britain, had colonial interests in the region and saw Nasser's nationalism as a threat.
- France believed Egypt was supporting the Algerian independence movement, which it was determined to suppress.
- France and Britain had a long history of cooperation and shared strategic goals.
Israel (led by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion)
- Israel felt threatened by Egypt's military build-up and support for Palestinian guerrilla raids.
- Egypt's blockade of the Straits of Tiran disrupted Israeli maritime access, which Israel was determined to restore.
- Israel saw an opportunity to weaken Egypt and forge closer ties with Britain and France.
Other Key Players:
United States (led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower)
- While initially supportive of the Aswan Dam, the US opposed the invasion of Egypt, fearing a wider conflict and Soviet involvement.
- The US played a crucial role in pressuring Britain, France and Israel to withdraw.
Soviet Union (led by Nikita Khrushchev)
- The Soviet Union seized on the crisis to denounce Western imperialism and position itself as a defender of Arab interests.
- While it threatened to intervene, its role was primarily diplomatic.
Course of the Crisis
Phase 1: The Invasion
- 29 October 1956: Israel launches a surprise attack on Egypt. They make advances across the Sinai Peninsula and reach the Suez Canal within days.
- 30–31 October 1956: Britain and France issue an ultimatum to Egypt and Israel, demanding they withdraw from the Canal Zone. Egypt refuses, as they see it as a violation of the country's sovereignty. British and French airstrikes on Egypt begin.
- 5–6 November 1956: British and French paratroopers land in the Canal Zone. They capture Port Said and fight with Egyptian forces.
Phase 2: International Condemnation and Pressure
- November 1956: The invasion is met with widespread international condemnation.
- The United States condemns the actions of its allies and pressures them to withdraw.
- The Soviet Union threatens intervention and makes nuclear threats.
- The United Nations General Assembly passes resolutions calling for a ceasefire and withdrawal of foreign troops.
Phase 3: Ceasefire and Withdrawal
- 6 November 1956: A UN-brokered ceasefire comes into effect. However, British and French forces remain in control of the Canal Zone.
- November–December 1956: Under intense international pressure, economic strain and a potential loss of support at home, Britain and France reluctantly agree to withdraw their forces.
- 22 December 1956: The last Anglo-French troops withdraw from Egypt. A UN peacekeeping force is deployed to the Sinai Peninsula to maintain peace and oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Consequences and Aftermath
- In the aftermath of the Suez Crisis, Gamal Abdel Nasser became a hero in the Arab world. Despite the military setback, his defiance against Western imperialism in nationalising the Suez Canal enhanced his influence.
- The crisis further reinforced a sense of unity among Arab nations. Massive anti-West demonstrations and riots happened in most cities and towns in the Arab states. In addition, both Saudi Arabia and Syria called off their diplomatic relations with France and Britain.
- With these developments, Jordan, Syria and Egypt signed a military agreement. In 1958, at the request of Syrian leaders, the United Arab Republic was established. This was a union between Syria and Egypt, led by Nasser. It was seen as a step towards a pan-Arab state.
- Israel, despite facing international pressure to withdraw, emerged from the crisis having realised some of its military aims. It gained control of the Gaza Strip and secured the Straits of Tiran, ensuring access to its southern port of Eilat. However, the crisis also heightened Israel's sense of isolation and vulnerability. The crisis reinforced the belief that the country could not rely on external powers for protection and had to prioritise self-reliance in matters of defence.
- For the former colonial powers, Great Britain and France, the Suez Crisis was a humiliating defeat that signified their waning influence on the world stage. Their failure to achieve their objectives exposed the limits of their power in a post-colonial era and strained their relationships with key allies, particularly the United States. The crisis accelerated their decline as global powers.
- On a global scale, the Suez Crisis emphasised the growing influence of the United States and the Soviet Union in the Middle East. Both superpowers sought to capitalise on the power vacuum left by the retreating European powers. This led to increased Cold War tensions in the region.
- Additionally, the deployment of the United Nations Emergency Force in the Sinai Peninsula was a development of UN peacekeeping operations that set a precedent for future international efforts to prevent and manage conflicts.
Suez Crisis and the Cold War
- The Suez Crisis wasn't simply a regional conflict. It became a part of the larger Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. While neither superpower directly engaged in military action, the crisis revealed their competing interests and increased tensions in the Middle East.
- The crisis occurred amidst decolonisation and growing Arab nationalism. The United States, eager to limit Soviet influence in the region, faced a delicate situation. It had initially supported the Aswan Dam project, seeing it as a way to counter Soviet advances in Egypt. However, when Egypt turned to the Soviet bloc for arms and strengthened ties with communist Czechoslovakia, the US withdrew its funding offer. This pushed Egypt further towards the Soviet sphere.
- The Soviet Union, seizing the opportunity, capitalised on the crisis to present itself as a defender of anti-imperialism and a reliable ally to Arab nations. It condemned the Anglo-French-Israeli actions, threatened to intervene militarily, and provided diplomatic support to Egypt. While the USSR's military threats were largely rhetorical, they nonetheless reinforced the potential for the Cold War to spark a global conflict.
- The US, caught between its opposition to the invasion and its desire to contain Soviet influence, found itself at odds with its allies, Britain and France. President Eisenhower, recognising the negative impact the crisis had on Western unity, pressured Britain and France to withdraw. This decision, while easing tensions, also strained relations within the Western bloc, leading to a shift in the global balance of power.
- The Suez Crisis had lasting consequences for the Cold War in the Middle East. It accelerated the decline of British and French influence, creating a power vacuum that both the US and USSR sought to fill. This competition for influence caused regional instability and contributed to future conflicts in the region.
Image Sources
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Tanks_Destroyed_Sinai.jpg
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Stevan_Kragujevic%2C_Gamal_Abdel_Naser_u_Beogradu%2C_1962.jpg/800px-Stevan_Kragujevic%2C_Gamal_Abdel_Naser_u_Beogradu%2C_1962.jpg
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/British_carriers_during_Suez_Crisis_1956.jpg/640px-British_carriers_during_Suez_Crisis_1956.jpg
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the Suez Crisis?
The Suez Crisis, also known as the Second Arab-Israeli War or the Suez Canal Crisis, occurred in 1956 when Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal. This led to a military intervention by Israel, followed by the United Kingdom and France, aiming to regain Western control of the canal.
- Why did Egypt nationalise the Suez Canal?
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal on 26 July 1956, primarily for the construction of the Aswan High Dam after the withdrawal of American and British financial support. The canal also symbolised Egyptian sovereignty and independence from colonial control.
- What was the outcome of the Suez Crisis?
The outcome of the Suez Crisis included a United Nations-brokered ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli, British, and French forces from Egypt. The crisis significantly weakened the influence of Britain and France in the Middle East and marked a shift in global power dynamics, highlighting the increasing influence of the United States and the Soviet Union.