What did the Suez Crisis show about power in the Cold War?

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A. The UN was the third superpower.

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B. The United States and the Soviet Union held the balance of power.

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C. No countries other than the United States had any influence.

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D. Britain was still a superpower.

The correct answer is B. The Suez Crisis showed that the United States and the Soviet Union held the balance of power in the Cold War.

Explanation:

The Suez Crisis was the war in which Israel, Britain and France attacked Egypt at the end of 1956. The British-French Suez Company, which controlled the Suez Canal was licensed to operate until 1968, after which ownership would be transferred to the Egyptian state. Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Company prematurely, which was interpreted by the owners as a clear provocation. Israel, which saw in Egypt its worst enemy, joined the conflict. The United States, the Soviet Union and the United Nations played crucial roles in forcing Britain, France and Israel to withdraw.

It showed that power had shifted from the old imperial powers to the new superpowers, in this case the USA.

The secret agreement between Britain, France and Israel to seize control of the Suez Canal proved a disaster particularly for Britain and France.

The canal had been nationalised under Nasser and taken from British and French control. The plan was that Israel would seize Sinai and the British and French would use this as a pretext to send in military forces and regain control of the canal.

The plan was a disaster. The US government under Eisenhower was furious. He forced a humiliating retreat by refusing to support a run on the pound unless the British pulled out.

There was also widespread domestic as well as international condemnation. Eden the PM, had to resign largely in disgrace.

It showed that the pre-war imperialist world had gone and that it was the superpowers who could now shape international policy.