How to Hide an Empire

World Events

Egyptian Revolution

"In Egypt, Zaghlul’s arrest, along with that of other nationalists, sparked a wave of protests known as the 1919 Revolution. A twelve-year-old boy swept up in it remembers having “exploded with enthusiasm” and going to mosques and meeting halls to deliver impassioned speeches and read poems."

The 1919 Revolution

In 1919, after thirty years of European occupation, the Egyptians decided to revolt against their suppressors: the British military forces. The spark started immediately after the British expelled the Egyptian national leader Saad Zaghloul, and his companions Mohammed Mahmuod, Ismail Sedki Basha and Hamad El-Basel from Egypt. When the group demanded an Egyptian representation at the Versailles Conference to defend Egypt’s right to be an independent national state, the British arrested and sent them to Malta on 9 March 1919. From that day until late April 1919, Egypt witnessed a nationwide upheaval—encouraged by the two official parties’ members that dominated Egypt at that time, Al-Hezib Al-watany (The National Party)[1] and Al-Wafd (The Delegation Party).

— Hadia abd el-fattah Ahmed for Arab Stages

Nationalists demonstrating in Cairo. March 1919.

Protesters during the Egyptian Revolution of 1919. April 1919.

How to Hide an Empire

This timespace is inspired by the 7th chapter of the book How to Hide an Empire, by Daniel Immerwahr. It tells the life of Puerto Rican nationalist Pedro Albizu Campos in the context of other nationalist movements and U.S. interventions in Latin America.

Albizu Campos' trial Birth Scholarship to University of Vermont Transferred to Harvard Elected vice-president of the Cosmopolitan Club Elected president of the Cosmopolitan Club Admitted to Harvard Law School Communication: Porto Rico and the War Joins the Army Attempt to raise money to send him to Paris Journey to the mainland Returns to Harvard Law School Graduates from Harvard and returns to Puerto Rico Married Dr. Laura Meneses Joins the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Travels around Latin America Becomes president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Defends the nationalist Luis Velasquez Runs for the Puerto Rican Senate Sugar cane strikes Barceloneta's Central Plazuela workers go on strike 1,200 workers from Central Coloso join the strike 8,000 workers join the Coloso strike Central Guánica goes on strike Peak of the strike Albizu Campos speaks to a crowd of 6,000 people Albizu Campos has a lunch with Colonel E. Francis Riggs The sugar strike is settled Río Piedras Massacre Our Political Status, by Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican Nationalism, an essay by Pedro Albizu Campos Assassination of Colonel Riggs First arrest Trial Ponce Massacre Albizu Campos is flown to a prison in Atlanta Released on probation Hospitalization at Columbus Hospital, New York US Congress authorizes Puerto Ricans to choose their own governor Returns to Puerto Rico The Nationalist Party is targeted by the FBI Puerto Rican flags were illegal Public Law 53 or "Gag Law" Vito Marcantonio speaks to the US Congress about Albizu Campos Speech: Pedro Albizu Campos speaks about the independence of Puerto Rico Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts Attempt to assassinate president Harry Truman Crossfire at Albizu's home Second arrest Brass Tacks Speech at the Municipal Meeting in Lares Pardoned by Luis Muñoz Marín Attack on the United States House of Representatives Third arrest Luís Muñoz Marín talks about Albizu Campos in an interview Albizu Called House Attack "Heroism" Albizu y Campos Arrested for Link With Recent Shooting in Congress Suffered a stroke Death A recording of Pedro Albizu Campos is released