These developments alarm the European powers, particularly…

These developments alarm the European powers, particularly Britain and France.

Britain is especially concerned about protecting the Suez Canal and the British lifeline to India.

In January 1882, Britain and France send a joint note declaring their support for the khedive.

The note has the opposite effect from that intended, producing an upsurge in anti-European feeling, a shift in leadership of the nationalist movement from the moderates in the assembly to the military, and the formation of a new government with Urabi as minister of war.

At this point, the goal of Urabi and his followers becomes not only the removal of all European influence from Egypt but also the overthrow of the khedive.