The Suez Crisis

The Suez Canal is a waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. In 1956, Egypt's leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, took control of the canal from a British and French company. Britain, France, and Israel attacked Egypt to take it back. But the United States and the Soviet Union both said to stop. The crisis showed that the old European empires were losing their power.

What Happened

Egypt had recently become fully independent from British influence. President Nasser wanted to build a big dam on the Nile River. When Western countries refused to pay for it, Nasser took over the Suez Canal to use the money from ships passing through. Britain and France were angry because they had owned the canal company. They teamed up with Israel and attacked Egypt.

The World Reacts

The attack on Egypt made many countries angry. The United States and the Soviet Union, even though they were rivals, both demanded that Britain, France, and Israel stop fighting. The United Nations sent peacekeepers. Britain and France had to withdraw their troops. It was a humiliating defeat for them. The crisis showed that the United States and the Soviet Union were now the world's two superpowers.

Fun Facts

• The Suez Canal is about 120 miles long and saves ships from sailing all the way around Africa.
• The canal took ten years to build and opened in 1869.
• About 50 ships pass through the Suez Canal every single day.

Did You Know?

The Suez Crisis was one of the first times the United Nations sent peacekeeping soldiers to a conflict zone, starting a tradition that continues today.