Problems in the empire

There were many problems in the Ottoman Empire in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. One of them was during Mahmet Ali Pasha’s term when Egypt was going through financial problems. Mahmet Ali Pasha wanted to monopolize. He sent his army down south to obtain gold and slaves. His son Ibrahim led an expedition into Syria. During this time, direct taxation was introduced to Egypt. Also the Treaty of Balta Liaman was signed in 1838. This created british monopolies in Persian territories.

Because Egypt was going through a depression, Pasha turned to cash crops. He began developmentalism to strengthen Egypt’s role. In order to do that, he needed a better army, but in order to have it he needed money. In order to get money he turned to cash crops. These were administered by the tax farmers. They were allowed to have land. They could also collect the products from the land, as long as they paid tax to the government. The tax farmers did not want to pay the taxes, and as a consequence Pasha eliminated them. He invited them for dinner at his house and he served them their last and poisonous meal. He killed them all and confiscated their land. Women were forced to work in factories and started to produce cotton. Cotton became both a blessing and a curse.