Level 1
What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement?
This was a secret agreement between the governments of the UK and France with the assent of Imperial Russia, defining their respective spheres of influence and control in Western Asia after the expected downfall of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. This is significant because it shows the start of European influence in the Middle East.
Describe the shrinkage of Palestinian land over time since the establishment of Israel.
In 1946 (before Israel was officially established) much of the land in that region was Palestinian. As time went on, Palestinian land began to shrink significantly, with the expanding land of Israel. Now, Israel has taken over that region with only fragments of Palestinian land left.
How did the Entente Powers use the Arab hatred toward the Ottoman Empire to gain progress in WWI?
When WWI began in the summer of 1914 and the Ottoman Empire found itself opposed to Britain, France, and Russia, the British figured they could use what they believed to be popular Arab sentiment for independence to their advantage. They believed that supporting a popular Arab uprising against the Ottomans would significantly help their war efforts in the Middle East. The British did not have to look hard for an Arab man willing to lead this supposed Arab uprising. The disgruntled local emir of Mecca, Sharif Hussein, was a prime candidate. He was nominally appointed by the Ottoman sultan to his post, but had fears that they would soon replace him. He also had dreams of becoming an independent ruler of Hejaz, and perhaps even king of all the Arabs.
Discuss the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence.
Sir Henry McMahon, British high commissioner, offered Sherif Hussein of Mecca an independent Arab state if he would help the British fight against the Ottomans. This was significant in turning the tides in WWI by contributing to the Entente Powers.
Describe the Egyptian Revolution. What caused it?
The arrests of Zaghlul and his fellow politicians in 1919 sparked the Egyptian Revolution. This was a movement in which Egyptians from all religions and classes united against the British. Demonstrations led to strikes by transport workers supported by trade unions, and morphed into a national general strike that paralyzed the country.
To what extent did the Sykes Picot Agreement incite violence in the Middle East?
To a large extent. The Sykes and Picot divided the map of the Middle East, one of the most volatile regions in the world, into states that cut through ethnic and religious communities. Because of this, a century later, the Middle East continues to bear the consequences of the treaty, and many Arabs across the region continue to blame the subsequent violence in the Middle East, from the occupation of Palestine to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, on the Sykes-Picot treaty. During WW I, the Allied Powers (France, Britain, Russia, and Italy) assigned a group of selected diplomats to hold talks that would determine each country’s share of the inheritance of the Ottoman Empire. Allied diplomacy in the Middle East created a large-scale disruption through the separation of peoples and its effects continue to be felt today.
What was the Balfour Declaration?
A public statement issued by the British government in 1917 during the First World War announcing support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
Discuss the outcomes of land given to European powers after the conclusion of WWI.
The Arab lands were partitioned after the war by the new League of Nations. Britain already had control of Egypt since the 1800s, but was now also given mandates over Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq, while France got mandates over Syria and Lebanon.
To what extent were the economic considerations for Britain and the Arabs a catalyst for any of the actions taken during WWI?
To a large extent. Britain did not want to become a factor in the drastic fight for the Holy Land therefore, they attempted to cover up their agreement with the Arabs, proving that they had no intentions to hand over the Holy Land to one side. The Arabs wanted Palestine for religious and economic purposes. Expanding land was very important to them because it allowed the Arab to gain control of their own journey instead of following everyone else’s agenda.
What year was Israel established?
1948
What caused the influx of Jewish immigration into Palestine during the mid-1900s?
The British had promised the Jews a homeland in Palestine through the Balfour declaration. When the British were given Mandatory Palestine, they had the authority to facilitate Jewish immigration into there. Therefore, due to Zionist ideals and the need to escape from persecution, there was an influx of Jewish immigration into Palestine.
In what ways did the King-Crane Report predict the violent future of the Middle East?
The King-Crane report prophetically warned of the conflicts raging in the Middle East today. The Commission set out to determine “the real wishes and true interests” of the people in the Middle East. The Arabs had hoped for a fair treatment under Wilson’s Fourteen Points, however, the open covenants principle soon gave way to closed-door decision making. The King-Crane Commission, organized by Wilson, visited tens of Arab cities and towns, interviewing countless individuals. They came to the conclusion that the Middle East “fervently desired independence.” Nothing was done with this information. The final sentence to the King-Crane report said, “Dangers may readily arise from unwise and unfaithful dealings with these people, but there is great hope of peace and progress if they be handled frankly and loyally.” This was an accurate prediction of what was to come in the future.
Why is the Peel Commission of significance?
They outlined a plan for dividing the territory of the Palestine Mandate between the Jews and the Arabs with a mandate still over Jerusalem; never implemented.
How did the British address the concerns of the Arab opposition to the Mandate?
The British sharply limited the number of Jews they would allow into Mandate Palestine. The Jews were upset because immigration was limited, leaving many of their peoples still scattered across Europe and Asia.
What were the 14 Points supposed to do vs what they actually did to the US and the Middle East?
Woodrow Wilson created the Fourteen Points to ensure national security and world peace. Several points addressed specific territorial issues in Europe, but the most significant sections set the tone for postwar American diplomacy and the ideals that would form the backbone of U.S. foreign policy as the nation achieved superpower status in the early 20th century. Aligning with the ideas represented in the points, the Egyptians wanted to have self-determination and be free from British control. They were promised their own land in the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, however, that was never upheld.