The Suez Canal

For the annotated bibliography I did find sources about the Suez Canal. They did help to narrow down the information about it. And after reading the comments, I did realize that I was all over the place. So , I want to narrow my research. Of course,I want to look into what the reasons behind the canal where, what happened during the building of the canal, what were the actual affects of the canal and the internationalization and nationalization of the canal.
For the first point, I haven’t found information. I want to say the motives for the European powers would be for transportation and trade. However, that was information I found on the major powers and I could not find an article that talks about the motives for Egypt, leading to the question, was Egypt involved? I did learn that Egypt paid 44% of the 200,00,000 Francs that was used to finance the project and that money came out of Said Pashu. I also learned that in 1856 Egypt also agreed to provide 4/5 of the labor needed (Hoskins). I am looking into who were the powers that wanted the Canal and what benefits they were looking for. This could also go into the actual construction of the Canal and the point that I want to discuss. Looking into that I have had difficulty finding information the building of the canal and the plans.
I did find an article called , "The Suez Canal and World Shipping, 1869-1914" by Max Fletcher, explained the changes that the Canal brought to Britain and the revolutionary changes the Suez brought, especially concerning steamer ships. Also , the article does go on to point that when the Suez Canal was unveiled, Britain was the “ world’s greatest shipper and ship builder. They go in hand and hand benefited Britain. The article also explained how the Britain benefited and practically dominated when it came to number of ships that actually went through the Suez Canal and profited. The other countries, which included, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Russia and Spain, they could not compete. Britain was faster.
Unlike the information that I was unable to find concerning the motive for Egypt, I did find the out effects that the Suez Canal had. While one would think being close to such a major port, they would prosper, it is different. An article called “The Suez Canal and the Outlook for Egypt” by Halford L. Hoskins, talked of this. He points out that the Suez Canal affected Egypt because ships were passing through the canal instead of passing through the land. Therefore, he talks about the business that couldn’t work; the business that thrived on travel. To me . the demonstrates the exploitation of the land. The Suez could have helped Egypt prosper but instead was exploited by the other powers.In 1888 a convention Great Britain and other 8 powers signed a convention making the Canal international and, made Egypt the representative that was to uphold it. I understand that Egypt is the closes but I do not know if Egypt was present at the convection.
I am beginning to feel my project is becoming more of a timeline and that bothers me because I don’t want to present a timeline, so my goals is to shape my argument and support it. So I want to work on “blending” (I’m not sure that would a good term) the information that have found and making a solid support.

Sources Cited:

Fletcher, Max E. "The Suez Canal and World Shipping, 1869-1914." The Journal of Economic History 18 (1958): 556-73

Hoskins, Halford L. “ The Suez Canal and the Outlook for Egypt.” The Amiercan Political Science Review 38 (1944): 110-19