The hastily conceived union of Syria and…
1961 CE
There are too many problems to overcome: the two countries are not contiguous, their economies and populations are different, and the Syrian elite deeply resents being made subservient to Egyptian dictates.
The deciding factor for the Syrian upper and middle classes comes in July 1961, when Nasser issues the so-called "socialist decrees" that call for widespread nationalizations.
This is followed by the elimination of local autonomy and a plan for the unification of Egyptian and Syrian currencies, a move that will deal the final blow to Syrian economic independence.