August 12, 2012 - Morsi Orders Top Generals to Retire
Mohammed Morsi forces out his two top generals and revoked a military-declared constitutional amendment that gave them wide powers. The removed amendment was set by the ruling army council to limit the presidential powers. The army was quickly moving towards gaining lost powers since the fall of Hosni Mubarak. Later, Morsi ordered the retirement of the commanders of the navy and air force. Morsi appointed Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as defense minister and the deposed chief of staff and defense minister were moved to presidential advisors.
November 22, 2012 - Morsi Gives Himself More Power
With a constitutional assembly on the brink of collapse and protesters battling the police in the streets over the slow pace of change, President Mohammed Morsi granted himself power over nearly everyone. He released a constitutional declaration granting himself the powers to issue any decision or law without any alternative authority in the country having the power to oppose or revoke it. The president had also granted himself the right to use all necessary procedures and measures needed to confront danger threatening the national unity and safety of the nation. He had appointed himself a wide range standby emergency powers at the hands of the presidency, having absolute power over the people. After the broadcast, many protests erupted on the streets. Morsi’s rule over the people became an absolute presidential tyranny.
November 2012 - Islamists Finish a Draft of the Constitution
The Islamists in the assembly reveals that they have finished the draft constitution. At this time many of the non-Islamic members are boycotting so the draft constitution reflect the Islamist Sharia-heavy politics. Many human-rights groups have concerns about the new constitution because it preserves the privileges and power the military had when Mubarak was in power. They would say that women, Christians, and intellectuals were sidelined in the writing of the new constitution. They would say, ‘You can have liberty of expression, freedom, etc. — if it is in conformity with Sharia.’
December 4, 2012 - Protest at the Presidential Palace
Over 100,000 people showed up at the presidential palace to protest against Morsi's rule and the draft constitution. They protested by chanting "Leave! Leave!". As they protested, the police fired tear-gas, but they allowed the crowd to rush out of the palace. The day after the protest, the Islamists attacked an anti-Morsi sit-in on the streets. This attack sparked street battles and left at least 10 dead.
January 2013-June 2013 - Protests Against Morsi
Many protests against Morsi were made starting in January 2013 and ended around June 2013. On January 25, 2013, which is the two- year anniversary of Mubarak's overthrow, thousands gathered up in the Tahrir Square to protest against Morsi and his abuse of power. In February and March, many protests rage in cities across Egypt for weeks because of a huge fuel shortage and electricity blackouts. In April, a group of young activists start a petition for Morsi to step down. They called themselves "Tamarod", which means "rebel" and started protests that demanded new elections. By June, Tamarod has said to have collected over 22 million signatures on their petition. With that information, Sisi made an announcement warning that since there is a growing split in society between Morsi supporters and anti-Morsi supporters, the military might be forced to get involved to calm it down. On the first anniversary of Morsi's presidency, June 30th, millions of protesters poured onto the streets calling Morsi to step down. In all of these protests, there were clashes with the police and many were killed and injured.