After 10 long years and 1.5 million workers, the largest canal of its kind was completed under the supervision of French entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps.1 The Suez Canal is long 120 mile, 670 foot wide artificial waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The Suez Canal was built under the rule of Napoleon2 to cut many miles of maritime passage from European to Asian markets. It created a passage that made travel around the Cape of Good Hope unnecessary.3 The Suez Canal amplified Western power and technology, transforming the globe.2 Because of international dependence on the canal, control of the canal was constantly contested. The Suez Canal Crisis of 1956 was a battle in defense of the rights that Britain felt it had over the Suez Canal Company and the surrounding region, which developed into an international conflict that could not be resolved civilly without the help of the United Nations. The European powers had plenty of them. of interest to Egypt. Financial interests helped these countries develop relations with Egypt. Therefore shares of the canal were purchased by the European superpowers.2 From 1882 to June 1956, Britain occupied Egypt allowing it to influence Egypt.4 On November 17, 1856, the Suez Canal opened its waterways to over 60 ships with many royal politicians with a celebration of $121 million.2 Britain was suspicious as to why France was increasingly influencing this area. Britain initially rejected the offer to buy shares in the canal from Egypt due to its suspicions of France. In 1870 Egypt was in huge debt, so the Egyptian ruler, Ismail, was selling shares of the canal to his country. The British… middle of the paper… increased enormously.8 The Suez Canal Crisis of 1956 showed the world that not all conflicts should be resolved by military force. The use of military force during this crisis has only made matters worse. The only thing these countries were worried about was power. Power is the center of every government. Power is what makes countries feel superior over each other. Throughout the crisis, Britain, Egypt and France fought over who had power over the canal and the greatest influence in the Middle East. Even after the end of the crisis, the countries continued to struggle for power. The Suez Canal was so vital to the economies of the European and world superpowers that anything that disrupted its operation would have a major impact on the world. The Suez Canal crisis showed the world that it is essential to live in a civilized world.