LEBANON

 Lebanon today is known as one of the most modern and westernized country in the Middle East. Lebanese people are an ethnic mix of Italian, French and Arabic.The Romans once invaded Lebanon, hence the reason why there are Roman ruins in Baalbeck. However after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the French colonized and settled in Lebanon where they brought their culture and influences on the Lebanese cities. Lebanon received its independence on November 22, 1943.

Lebanon's Independence

Lebanon received it’s independence on November 22, 1943, the withdraw of the United Kingdom and France forces led to “economic and political stability" (A) Lebanon became the calmest center of the Middle East and still is, it's known as the “Switzerland,” of the Middle East. Even in the Arab Israeli War of 1948 Lebanon took no part in the war. (A)

Because of the conflict in the Middle East between the armed forces of Palestinian guerillas (right picture) Lebanon’s economy was interrupted. (A) Lebanon absolutely did not want a civil war instead the government signed the Cairo Accord with the Palestinian Liberation Organization. (A) Lebanon became a state within a state. War broke out between the Muslims and Christians because parts of Lebanon were able to send raids to Israel. (D) A huge number of people passed from this war. In addition the war ruined the economy and weakened the government. The Palestinian Liberation Organization ruled Lebanon,  the Muslim leftists, Syrian forces and the Sa'ah Haddad. (A) In May of 1983 Lebanon, Israel and the United States signed an agreement; Lebanon and Israel agreed to end the state war so Israel withdrew its forces and both Lebanon and Israel agreed to establish a security zone in Southern Lebanon. (C)

Lebanon's Colonization

The Roman Empire conquered Lebanon and Syria but by the 7th century the Arabs conquered most of Lebanon.(A) In Lebanon it was the Maronite Christians who lived there before Islam spread through conversion and migration, although most of Lebanon remained Christian. (A) However the Druzes established themselves in the South of the Mount Lebanon area and also Syria.

Lebanon fell to the Crusaders; the invasion of the Mongols, trade began to decline until the reunification of the Middles East under the Ottoman Empire. A man by the name Fakhr ad-Din (left picture) of the Ma’an family wanted to create an “autonomous Lebanon” (A)  he opened up Lebanon to Western Europe through military pacts, commercial and encouraged Christian missionary acts.(A) Bashir II of the Shihab family prolonged his power, Bashir II was successful in building a strong state. Unfortunately Egypt had occupation in Syria and tied Lebanese affairs to international politics and the hostility between Christians and Druzes rose. (D) The British Invasion lasted from 1840 to 1841, the British delivered Lebanon from Egyptian rule and forced Bashir II to exile involving both France and the United Kingdom. (A) As result the economy began to slide due to religious hatred; for example the Druzes felt their power disintegrating and organized a huge slaughter against the Christians.(A) France then sent their army into Mount Lebanon which the Ottoman government agreed to establish the international commission to set up a new “pro- Christian government.” (A) Soon came the Ottoman Empire followed by the break out of World War I which led to “Allied blockage." (B) There was a widespread of hunger and the destruction of prosperity for the Lebanese. In the Allied conference of 1918 to 1920 France was given a mandate over both Mount Lebanon and Syria. (A) The “mandate years,” were known as the period of material growth and of small political development. In 1940 Vichy France took control over Lebanon and Syria, however the two countries combined to create an "Anglo-Free French force." The independence of Lebanon was announced by the Free French. (A)

Like Lebanon, France conquered Haiti. In 1492 a famous explorer Christopher Columbus landed in Haiti. Spain and other countries were sailing at the time and soon settled in the eastern part of Haiti. The French conquered the side that was left, the western side. 

In addition the French once conquered Vietnam. In March of 1946 negotiations were made between the French and the Viet Minh for Vietnamese political leeway. The French wanted to give Vietnam "the status off a free state within the French Union." France's troops slowly began to fade out of Vietnam in the next five years.