Political, economic and social circumstances in Egypt during the late 1940s and the early 1950s, in addition to Egypt?s defeat at war in Palestine (1948), led to political mobility within the army which was, up until then, the only real institution in the whole of the government that embodied the Egyptian spirit since the failure of Urabi's revolution IN 1882. A clandestine organization in the army began among a few officers. It was founded by Major Gamal Abdul Nasser under the name of "the Free Officers Organization" .The organization elected as their leader General Mohammed Naguib for his recognized patriotism and honesty. On the night of 23 July 1952, their movement seized control of the country. Anwar As-Sadat read out the revolution?s first statement on behalf of General Naguib. King Farouk was ousted and his son, a little boy at the time, Ahmed Fuad II, was appointed king of Egypt on 26 July 1952. He lasted two days. On 28 July 1952, the monarchy was abolished and Egypt was declared a republic. Naguib became Egypt?s first president. During his time in office, negotiations with the British commenced with regard to the future of Sudan. On 9 September 1953, the first Law on Agricultural Reform was passed, limiting the ownership of arable land to a maximum of 200 feddans. Due to differences between Naguib and the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) concerning the role to be played by the officers in the following phase, the RCC relieved Naguib of his duties, and major Nasser, by then promoted to colonel, assumed office.

President Nasser committed himself to the implementation of the principles of the revolution, among them being a major campaign to reclaim desert land for agricultural purposes. A second Law on Agriculture Reform limited land ownership to 100 feddans and a third law limited it further to 50 feddans. Meanwhile, special importance was attached to strengthening Egypt?s industrial capacity; major factories were built such as the iron and steel plant in Helwan and fertilizers plant in Aswan. The Suez Canal was nationalized and the High Dam was built. The number of hours in the work week were set, and laws were passed providing social insurance to all citizens. Further, women were given the right to vote and to run for parliamentary seats. Education was also the focus of government attention and was made free of charge at all levels.

Politically, the revolutionary government embraced the idea of Arab nationalism. It endeavored to support the independence of all Arabs still under colonial occupation, including the Palestinians who remained without a country of their own. Egypt united with Syria and Yemen and supported the struggle against imperialism of all forms in Africa and Asia. Egypt also played a pioneering role in founding the Non-Alignment Movement that emerged after the Bandung conference in 1955.

The imperialist powers conspired against the revolution more than once. Britain, France and Israel mounted a tri-partite aggression 1956, and in June 1967 Egypt fought off an Israeli aggression that was assisted by the USA. During President Anwar Al-Sadat period of rule (1970 ? 1981), Egypt won a military victory in 1973 against the Israelis when Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal and destroyed the Bar Lev Line. Through President Sadat?s brave initiative, the peace process was revitalized and the Camp David Accords 1979 were signed, whereby Israel withdrew from Sinai.

After Sadat's assassination in 1981, his delegate Mohammed Husni Mubarak) came to power. President Mubarak sought to continue his program. Taba was regained and the march on development commenced. Millions of feddans of desert land were reclaimed. The industrial and commercial private sector received considerable support. Egypt's external relations with Arab and non-Arab countries were improved. However, the most significant reform currently witnessed in President Mubarak's rule is upholding one of the revolution?s principles; namely sound democratic life. The constitution was amended and the president of Egypt was for the first time in Egypt?s history elected by direct free voting. After the election, the Elections Committee declared the winning of President Mubarak to be the first President elected directly and not via a referendum so that he could forge ahead with the pledges he made in his platform to continue the march of economic and democratic reforms.