Second: British policy in Egypt during the World War (1914–1918)

Ending Ottoman suzerainty

• The Ottoman state entered the war against Britain, and Britain seized the chance to end Ottoman suzerainty over Egypt.
• It imposed the British Protectorate on Egypt in 1914.
• It deposed Khedive Abbas Hilmi, appointed Hussein Kamel and gave him the title of Sultan; he died in 1917 and his brother Ahmed Fuad succeeded him.

Wartime grievances

• Forced conscription of Egyptians to serve the British forces.
• Confiscation of peasants' cattle and grain at miserable prices.
• Seizure of cotton from large landowners at low prices.
• Rising prices of grain, textiles, fuel and transport without a matching rise in wages.
• Imposition of martial law and silencing of the press.
• Preventing the Legislative Assembly, which contained representatives of the people, from meeting.
• Egyptians felt they were living in one big prison.