alternatehistory.com

The late 1850s were not just a time of agricultural and industrial change but also a time of social and political shifts as a result of both the Cotton Boom and European influence. The first Egyptian parliament was found in 1858 made up and elected by the nation's aristocracy. The second-class Christian Coptic minority was brought closer legally and socially with the Muslim majority thanks to the abolition of the Jizya tax in 1855. In addition, the Copt population was allowed to enter the military. But the era also saw negative effects for many Christian and Muslim peasants. The Cotton boom had forced many into a de-facto feudal system to farm Cotton on large estates. Increasing Cotton production saw the cultivation of food decline leading to higher prices, increasing the burden on the peasants. Others still now found themselves leaving agriculture entirely, heading off to work in Egypt's growing industrial sector.