Source #1: Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt, parliamentary speech explaining why his government had passed decrees nationalizing* all large businesses in Egypt and restricting the amount
of land a single individual could own to about 100 acres, 1961.
We always refused to compromise with imperialism, but up until now we had made the mistake of
compromising with the wealthy classes in Egypt who are, in essence, the agents of imperialism. We
imagined that whatever the differences between the ordinary people and the wealthy might be, the
wealthy were nonetheless sons of the same country and partners in the same future as the rest of us.
But experience has shown that we were wrong. It has shown that these reactionary elements in our
society, on which imperialism relies, cannot be left to their own devices to continue to rob the people of
its economic and social gains. When we nationalized the Suez Canal [in 1956], we thought our blows
against imperialism should be aimed at its alliances and military bases. But we forgot that imperialism
was also hiding in the palaces and safes of our Egyptian millionaires.
For hundreds of years, our fellow countrymen suffered political oppressions and social injustice. But
now [with nationalization] they have found a way to regain their rights. Farmers have been turned into
landowners. Factory workers have also been turned into owners, for now they take part in the
administration of their companies.
*Nationalizing means having the government in control of a business or industry.

A. What specific policies did Gamal Nasser pursue?
B. Nasser says wealthy Egyptians were agents of imperialism. What does this mean?
C. On a scale of 1-4 (1 = totally independent; 4 = not at all independent), to what extent was Egypt
economically independent from the West, according to Nasser? Explain.
D. Do you think Nasser’s policy changes would make Egypt more or less independent from the
West? Explain.