The political life in modern-day Jordan, known previously as Transjordan, dates back to the period of Ottoman rule. Transjordan was considered part of the Levant and since 1908 was represented in the Ottoman Parliament by one deputy.

At the end of the Ottoman rule and as Britain and France set out to implement the terms of Sykes-Picot agreement, Syria was put under the French mandate, which resulted in the fall of the Arab government formed by King Faisal in Damascus. Britain took control of Transjordan and delegated the administration of affairs to its newly appointed High Commissioner in Jerusalem, Herbert Samuel. Samuel introduced two local governments, one in Al-Karak and the other in Amman. A third government was later formed in Taybeh and comprised all northern areas of Transjordan.

The establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan is associated with the Hashemite Emir Abdullah, son of King Hussein Ben Ali, who as soon as he had arrived in the country, started to seek the support of people and local governments, urging them to rally around him. This, coupled with his overt intention to entice a revolution that would liberate Transjordan from foreign occupation, worried the French and threatened their presence in Syria. Britain interceded with the Emir’s father, King Hussein, to persuade his son not to take any action to the detriment of France, promising in return Transjordan autonomous rule under Emir Abdullah. Hence, British Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill was dispatched in March 1921 to meet Emir Abdullah and agree upon the formation of an emirate and a constitutional government. Subsequently, local governments were dissolved and merged into one entity known as the government of the Emirate of Transjordan as per the agreement signed between the two parties on May 25, 1923, which granted the emirate the right to autonomy in five years, providing that the necessary preconditions were met.

Both an advisory council and an elected people’s assembly emerged, thus fulfilling the condition set by Britain to grant Transjordan full independence. Yet, Britain persisted in its dilatory maneuvers in the hope of brokering a written agreement that would guarantee its interests in the area. Infuriated by the British procrastination, popular delegations filed a complaint to the League of Nations, requesting the dispatching of an impartial committee to ensure that the national demands be met. In a counter response, Britain expanded its interference in the country’s internal affairs and cancelled the electoral law, bringing local military forces under inspection and limiting the political liberties as well as the financial aids given to the emirate.

Despite the formation of a new government under Ibrahim Hashem in 1934 and the holding of elections, the Zionist threat and its expansion in Palestine dominated the thoughts of people and created terror among them. Despite Emir Abdullah’s endeavors to persuade the British to exclude Transjordan from the Balfour Declaration, the Jews insisted that it was part of the alleged Israeli territory and went out of their way to purchase land in the area on the one hand and to permeate the political life through Transjordanian parties on the other. Its first attempt in this respect was its penetration of the moderate Liberal Party through leaks disclosed to the Jewish Agency of Israel. The period until 1937 was marked by heightened tensions, particularly after numerous Transjordanians had joined the ranks of rebels in Palestine. The growing opposition to Britain’s expanding influence and oppressive practices lead the British government to amend a number of laws such as those of ownership and personal status in order to prevent the exacerbation of the situation.

In 1945, Transjordan allied itself with Britain against Germany and Italy, hoping that it would be rewarded full independence after the end of World War II for the support it demonstrated during the war. In light of Transjordan’s position in World War II and with the national forces’ indefatigable call for independence, Emir Abdullah was summoned to London to attend negotiations for independence. The negotiations resulted in the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, which was signed by Prime Minister Ibrahim Hashem and Britain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ernest Bevin, on March 12, 1946 and whereby Britain ended its mandate in Transjordan. The state’s name was changed into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Abdullah I was recognized as a constitutional monarch. May 25 was announced as Jordan’s official Independence Day.