U.S. Modern History
Introduction
A number of historians have referred the 20th century as the American Century. This is because; United States dominated economically, politically, and culturally. Critical to this century was the America control of world’s oil resources. This is an important century in America since it was during this century when U.S. finally implemented promise of its ideals to its citizens. In the early 20th century, America was an exceptional country as it was an important industrial power. The major 20th century historical events in the America such as World War I, World War II, the passage of 1964 Civil Rights Acts, Women gaining right to vote, fall of Berlin war in 1989, the Unites States Depression in 1930s, among others had various effects on the families living in America.
Besides, these historical events had effects on families that were not living in the United States. Many countries from a number of continents such as African and Asian continents were affected by the major historical events happening in the United States and those that United States played a part in other continents (Gardner 47). For instance, the involvement of United States in the Vietnam War affected the Vietnamese families. In addition, involvement of United States in both WWI and WWII had various effects on the families in other countries such as various countries in the African continent.
The Egyptian families are among the families in the African continent who were affected either negatively or positively by the actions of the United States during the 20th century. Therefore, this essay focuses on the effects of the actions of the United States during the 20th century on my family members. I come from Egypt and after orally interviewing my grandparents and parents; I realized that various members in my family were affected by the major historical actions of the United States during the 20th century. These actions changed the lives of some family members both positively and negatively.
One of the 20th century historical events that United States participated in and which had effects on the lives of many Egyptians including my family members was the Suez crisis of 1956. This was essentially a complex affair with origins that were complicated as well as consequences that were momentous for the Middle East international history. Its origin can be traced to Arab-Israel conflict, which swept the region in late 1940s and to decolonization wave that swept the world in middle of the 20th century. The crisis caused conflict between the emergent nations and the imperial powers. Before the end of this crisis, it aggravated the conflict between Arab and Israel where it came close to provoking showdown between Soviet Union and United States. French and British imperial pretentions in Middle East were dealt a mortal blow by the crisis. This provided a gateway for United States to assume prominent political position in this region. It is interesting to note that many of the actions that United States during this crisis were beneficial to Egyptian families.
United States actions on this crisis were on 3 basic and connected premises. First, albeit President Dwight D. Eisenhower sympathized with France’s and Britain’s desire to recover the company; he failed to contest Egypt’s right to seize it provided that it was in a position to pay adequate compensation as the international law required. Thus, he sought to avert military clash and settle the quarrel with diplomacy before Soviet Union exploited this situation for its political gain. President Eisenhower thus directed John Foster Dulles, the secretary of state to defuse this crisis on the terms that were acceptable to both France and Britain through negotiations, public statements, 2 international conferences in the London, deliberations at United Nations, and Suez Canal Users Association establishment. By the late October, all these efforts were not successful and the Anglo French war preparations were going on.
Second, President Eisenhower intended to avoid alienating the Arab nationalists hence he included the Arab statesmen in the diplomacy to end this dispute. The president’s refusal to endorse the Anglo-French power against Egypt resulted from realization that the seizure of Canal Company by President Nasser was extensively popular among the Arabs. Iraqi and Saudi leaders declined the United States suggestions to criticize the action by Nasser or challenge his prestige. Third, President Eisenhower wanted to segregate Israel from Canal controversy because he feared that the mixture of volatile Anglo-French Egyptian and Israel- Egyptian conflicts would lead to a war in Middle East. The President finally arranged arms supplies from France, Canada, and United States in hope of easing the Israel insecurity and hence this averted Egyptian- Israel war.
Despite all these efforts by the United States, Britain and France colluded with Israel to launch a war on Egypt. Israel would actually invade Sinai Peninsula, France and Britain would issue the ultimatums ordering the Israel and Egyptian troops to pull out from Suez Canal Zone. When President Nasser as it was expected would reject these ultimatums, European powers would essentially bomb the Egyptian airfields within 2 days, occupy the zone, and ultimately depose Nasser. The war began on 29th October when Israel launched frontal assault on the Egyptian forces (Cohen 64). The United States took various steps, which were designed to end this war quickly. Thus, America imposed sanctions on the colluding powers.
This crisis affected my family members negatively. After interviewing my grandfather, he narrated to me how his 2 blood and 3 step brothers who were in the army died as a result of this war. They served in the army under President Nasser. He was a small boy by then and his duties were to stay with his little sisters at home. His eldest sisters used to cook for his brothers and other men who were fighting. He explained how during the cold war, anti-British emotions in Egypt had sparked the civil unrest that allowed cabal of the Egyptian army officers who were called Free Officers movement. This movement was formed to oust the king. Free officer movement led to a military involvement era in Egyptian politics. His brothers ended up becoming members of free officers movement. He further explained that they had gone through sufferings during the coup. Under the leadership of Nasser, they abolished monarchy and outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in 1954. This war claimed the lives of his father.
The other event that United States played a part and that had effects on my family members was the signing of Camp David Accords. These agreements were signed on 17th September, 1978 between Egypt and Israel. United States participated in these agreements since the accords were brokered by the former American president, Jimmy Carter. The agreements were between Menachem Begin who was the Israel prime minister and Anwar el-Sadat, the former Egyptian president (Dobson 79). The agreements were officially called “Framework for peace in Middle East”. These agreements were called Camp David Accords since negotiations took place at Camp David, which is the United States presidential retreat in Maryland.
This positively impacted the lives of many Egyptians. In particular, my great grandparents had participated in the war between Israel and Egypt for many decades before these accords were signed. My grandfather narrated to me how some of my uncles died during the war and how others were left with injuries. For example, my eldest uncle has a scar that he got from this war. On the other hand, my mother, grandmother, and aunts used to cook for those who participated in the war. For that reason, the participation of the United States in these accords changed the lives of all my family members. They were relieved from sufferings that resulted from war since after the agreements peace prevailed between Egypt and Israel.
American idealism also took place during this century. The former United States president, Woodrow Wilson is associated with this idealism. Wilsonian idealism is actually the school of thought, which was personalized in the American diplomatic history by him. Wilson’s determination to make the entire world safe for democracy essentially galvanized American public. This idealism generally had effects on the lives Egyptians. It is worth noting that in spring of 1919 during the Egypt’s revolt against the British rule, Egyptian nationalists who included my family members were fired by the Wilsonian ideals (Brune 102). These nationalists used to shout the Wilson percepts during the riots. By invoking Wilson’s credo, they beseeched United States senate to support the Egyptian independence.
Wilson’s doctrine thus proved pivotal in spreading the democracy during the 20th century in Egypt. This had effects on my family members. From the oral interviews that I had with my only alive grandfather, I realized that he together with other family members were freedom fighters during the British colonialism in my country (Hahn 92). A number of them who participated in those riots were injured by the British police. American idealism had encouraged them to fiercely participate in those riots. Wilsonian ideals made them so courageous that they never feared live burets from the colonial police. For instance, one of my great grandfathers died during these riots after he was shot. In the oral interviews, I realized that this grandfather was a democrat who was ready to die in his fight for independence. From this discussion, is understandable that a number of my family members who participated in wars died.
Works cited
Gardner, Lloyd C. The Road to Tahrir Square: Egypt and the United States from the Rise of Nasser to the Fall of Mubarak. New York, NY: New Press, 2011.
Lynch, Keith E. The Suez Crisis of 1956: A Re-Interpretation of Conflict. , 2000
Mezerik, A G. The Suez Canal 1956 Crisis-1967 War: 1968-9 Fighting, Un Observers (untso), Action in United Nations; Positions of Combatants, Big Four & Others, Straits of Aqaba-Casus Belli. New York: International Review Services, 1969.
Mead, Walter Russell. Special Providence: American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World. New York, NY: Random House, 2001.
Lake, David A. Entangling Relations: American Foreign Policy in Its Century. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000.
American History. Harrisburg, PA: Cowles History Group, a division of Cowles Magazines, 1994.
Cohen, Warren I. The Cambridge History of American Foreign Relations: Vol. 4, America in the Age of Soviet Power, 1945-1991. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Brune, Lester H. Chronological History of U.S. Foreign Relations, 3 vols. New York, NY: Routledge, 2002.
Dobson, Alan. U.S. Foreign Policy since 1945. New York, NY: Routledge, 2000.
Hahn, Peter L. The United States, Great Britain, and Egypt, 1945-1956: Strategy and Diplomacy in the Early Cold War. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1991.
Oral interviews with grandfather
