Should Morocco be

independent?
 Background
• The year is 1905
• Britain and France have signed the Entente Cordiale
• Germany is looking to build up its empire as part of
it’s policy of “Weltpolitik”
• Morocco is a country in north Africa that Britain and
France had fallen out over in the past but the
Entente Cordiale means that Britain will no longer
challenge France’s power in northern Africa
• Germany is upset that Britain and France are now
friendly and also is jealous of Britain and France’s
colonies
• In 1905 the Kaiser visited Morocco and challenged
France’s right to control Morocco
• The Kaiser called for an international conference to
be held
• This was the first Moroccan crisis…
 Task 1
• Your group represents one of the countries
involved in the Moroccan crisis
• Using the information on your sheet identify
the aims of that country; whether they support
Morocco being independent; what actions they
take; why they take these actions; who these
actions upset, if anyone; and why they would
be upset
• Complete the chart
 Background Pt.2
• In 1906 a conference was held in Algeciras in
Southern Spain
• It was attended by Germany, France, Britain,
Austria-Hungary and Morocco
• This meeting was held to decide what the
future for Morocco should be
• Each of the countries had to try an achieve
their aims at the conference
 Task 2
• You are now representing your country at the
meeting
• You have to try and gain the best possible
outcome for your country
• Make sure you fully understand the aims of
the other European countries fully
• Complete the chart outlining the aims and
alliances shown by the different countries
 Task 3
• Now look at the possible outcomes of the
conference
• As a group you have to decide on the most
appropriate outcome
• Explain why you have chosen that outcome
 Background Pt.3
• The first Moroccan crisis was resolved but in 1911 the people of
Morocco rebel against their King (the Sultan)
• The Sultan asks the French Government for help
• France sends in the army
• Germany still wants to expand its empire and is looking for more
colonies
• The Kaiser decides to help the rebels and sends a gunboat, the Panther,
to the port of Agadir
• This was the second Moroccan crisis…
 Task 4
• Representatives from your country meet once
again to discuss the crisis
• Using the information on your sheet identify
the aims of that country; their position on the
crisis; what actions they are prepared to take;
why they wish to take these actions; who these
actions upset, if anyone; and why they would
be upset
• Complete the chart for your country
 Tangier, 1905
Do they support Allied with another What actions are they Who would these
Moroccan country? prepared to take? actions upset? Why?
independence?

Morocco

Germany

France

Britain

Austria-
Hungary
Agreed Outcome…
 Agadir, 1911
Do they support Allied with another What actions are they Who would these
Moroccan country? prepared to take? actions upset? Why?
independence?

Morocco

Germany

France

Britain

Austria-
Hungary
Agreed Outcome…
 Morocco
• Morocco
Germany
France
Britain
Austria-Hungary
 The First Moroccan Crisis of 1905
BACKGROUND:
• Background of tension & rivalry (esp. Imperialism -
Kaiser Wilhelm wanted 'a place in the sun‘).
• Morocco was weak; France hoped to conquer it. 
• In 1903, the French based an army on the Moroccan
border. 
• In Feb. 1905, France demanded control over the
Moroccan army and police.   The Sultan refused.
 The First Moroccan Crisis of 1905
MAIN STORY:
• In March 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm visited Tangiers in
Morocco.

• He told the French agent (Count Cherisay) that he

wanted free trade for Germany in Morocco - then
dismissed him before he could reply.

• He then gave a speech in which he promised to

defend Morocco as 'free and independent ‘ and
‘subject to no foreign control'.
 The First Moroccan Crisis of 1905
END:
• There was an international crisis - both France and
Germany threatened war..
• The French (scared of another war with Germany)
were going to back down, but the British encouraged
them to take a firm line..
• A Conference was held at Algeciras (1906).
• Britain and Russia supported France (Britain
stationed a navy patrol outside Algeciras harbour)
• Germany had to promise to stay out of Morocco. 
 The First Moroccan Crisis of 1905
RESULTS:
• France were ANGRY with Germany.
• Britain was frightened of Germany’s Empire.
• At the Algeciras Conference (1906), France, Britain,
and Russia forced Germany to promise to stay out of
Morocco.   Germany felt humiliated.
• In 1907, Britain and Russia, alarmed by German
ambitions, made an Entente - adds to alliances.
• Algeciras convinced Germany that the other
countries were 'ganging up' on Germany - from this
moment, Germany began preparing for war.
 The Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911
BACKGROUND:
• Background of tension & rivalry (Imperialism - Kaiser
Wilhelm wanted 'a place in the sun‘).
• At Algeciras (1906), Germany promised to keep out
of Morocco - the French Foreign Legion went into
Morocco.
• In 1910, France made a huge loan to Morocco, and
took control of customs and taxes.
• In 1910 France sent a gunboat to Agadir in southern
Morocco (German newspapers were angry).
 The Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911
MAIN STORY:
• In March 1911 there was a rebellion in northern
Morocco.   The French sent an army to defend (=
angers the Germans).
• In June 1911, the Germans announced that they
needed to protect German citizens in southern
Morocco (even though there were no German
citizens in southern Morocco).
• In July 1911, Kaiser Wilhelm sent the gunship
Panther to Agadir.   It 'rescued' ONE German.
 The Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911
END:
• There was an international crisis - war-fever in
Germany and Britain.
• Lloyd George attacked Germany and promised
support for France ('Mansion House speech').
• Nov 1911: Treaty of Berlin - Germany was forced to
remove the gunship and accept instead a small piece
of land in the Congo.   Morocco became a French
colony.
• Morocco became a French colony.
 The Second Moroccan Crisis, 1911
RESULTS:
• War-fever in Germany and Britain.
• Nov 1911: Treaty of Berlin - Germany was
forced to remove the gunship and accept
instead a small piece of land in the Congo.  
Morocco became a French colony.
• German resentment: Wilhelm said: 'these
events have shown the German people where
its enemy is'.
• One historian has written: 'the Kaiser was
determined not to be the loser in the next
crisis'.  
 TANGIER, 1905 AGADIR, 1911

DESCRIBE

EXPLAIN

ASSESS
1911 – There was a The Sultan asked Germany sent the European countries The Kaiser wanted The Germans stated
rebellion against the French for help. gunboat Panther to had been to expand his that they supported
the Sultan at Fez, The French Army the port of Agadir competing for parts empire. This was and independent
the capital of was sent to help to help protect of northern Africa known as Morocco
Morocco German interests in “Weltpolitik”
Morocco

The Germans Austria-Hungary Britain supported The Entente Cordial Britain promised Britain was no
wanted to try and supported Germany France. was strengthened France naval longer in “splendid
stop the French and Germany was support isolationism”
controlling Morocco left feeling
vulnerable to attack

Britain believed that Germany never Germany was Germany became There was a move to A secret naval
Germany was expected Britain to humiliated and less annoyed with Britain all countries agreement was
threatening their become involved in likely to back down for interfering preparing for war made between
naval base on the second crisis if another dispute Britain and France
Gibraltar happened for Britain to protect
the coast of
northern France and
for France to protect
British interests in
the Mediterranean

Morocco became a Germany was forced Germany was forced Threatened by Germany felt The Triple Alliance
French colony to accept two to promise it would Germany Britain “ganged up on” and was weakened as
marshy strips of land stay out of Morocco looks to solve started preparing for Italy did not support
in the Congo disputes and forms war Germany’s actions
an alliance with over Agadir.
Russia – Anglo-
Russian Agreement,
1907
 The Moroccan Crises
Source J – Lloyd George’s speech at the Mansion
House, published in The Times on 22nd July 1911.
Lloyd George was then Chancellor of the Exchequer
“But if a situation were to be
forced upon us in which peace
could only be preserved by the
surrender of the great position
Britain has won by centuries of
heroism and achievement, by
allowing Britain to be treated
where her interests were vitally
affected as if she were of no
account in the Cabinet of nations,
then I say emphatically that peace
at that price would be a
humiliation intolerable for a great
country like ours to endure.”
Source K – The historian W.N.
Medlicott writing in 1968
“The Second Moroccan Crisis
ought to have been called the
“Fez” crisis. The word “Agadir”
shows how much unfavourable
limelight the Germans
attracted to themselves.”
Questions
1. Read source J. What is Lloys George suggesting in
this source?
2. What effect do you think source J would have on
France and Germany?
3. How was the Entente Cordiale strengthened by the
Agadir Crisis?
4. How was the Triple Alliance changed by the Agadir
Crisis?
5. What is meant in source K by claiming that the crisis
“ought to have been called the “Fez” crisis?
6. Why do you think it was called the Agadir Crisis?