The Moroccan Crises
The Moroccan Crises were two international conflicts that arose before Morocco was colonized by Spain and France from 1905 to 1911. Problems were mainly over imperialism. While most countries in Africa were being colonized, Morocco was still independent. Many European nations, the French in particular, wanted control over Morocco. France made secret treaties and agreements with different countries in order to gain control of Morocco. France attempting to make Morocco into a protectorate stirred up conflict, specifically with Germany. Germany, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, didn't want Morocco to become colonized by France. As a result, Germany actively tried to prevent the French in both the First and Second Moroccan Crises
The Entente Cordiale
The Entente Cordiale, which means "cordial agreement", was a group of agreements made between the two European countries, France and Great Britain. Both France and Great Britain representatives signed the agreements, which they came to by solving their disputes and compromising with each other. The Entente Cordiale was beneficial for both nations because it gave them both freedom to pursue their own interests in colonizing other countries. France was able to act on their interests in Morocco without interference from the British. Also, Britain was allowed to continue their actions in Egypt and the French couldn't do anything to stop their activity
First Moroccan Crisis
The First Moroccan Crisis began when Germany's Kaiser Wilhem II went to Tangier to provide his support to the sultan of Morocco on the topic of Morocco's independence. Kaiser Wilhelm visit angered the French and British. Although Wilhelm and the German government didn't have any specific interest in Morocco, there were other motivations. Wilhelm's goal in giving support to Morocco was to cause conflict and disrupt the alliance between France and Great Britain. Wilhelm didn't like that Germany wasn't being involved with decisions over what happened with North Africa. France had interest in colonizing Morocco and was already given permission to form a protectorate by Great Britain and Spain. By giving support to the Moroccans, the Kaiser hoped to interfere with France's activity in Morocco. Also, it was decided previously in a convention in 1880 that Morocco would be guaranteed independence. The agreement formed between France and Great Britain threatened to go against that decision and threatened Germany's influence on Europe. Another goal the Germans had in visiting the sultan was to prove to everybody else that France was weak by showing that they are unable to handle the situation caused by the Kaiser.
Algeciras Conference
The Algeciras Conference was an international conference that met in Agadir, Spain. The conference was held after the First Moroccan Crisis starting on January 16, 1906. The United States, Morocco, and many European nations, including France, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Austria-Hungary, all met in Spain to solve disputes after the Moroccan crisis. At the conference, representatives talked about what would happen with Morocco and France's involvement with Morocco. Germany went to Algeciras with a lot of confidence but the conference made it obvious that Germany was going to be in trouble because most of the countries agreed with France. In the end, France was given support by Great Britain, the United States, and other nations while Germany's only ally was Austria-Hungary. Germany realized that if they were to declare war on France, they would have many of the European countries against them, on France's side. Therefore, the Algeciras Conference helped prevent a war between the European nations.
Second Moroccan Crisis
The Second Moroccan Crisis or Agadir Crisis began when France brought troops over to the city, Fez, in Morocco to prevent rebellions. Earlier that year in March, France said that tribes and groups were causing trouble and planning to start a rebellion in Morocco. This meant that the city of Fez was in danger. As a result, the sultan of Morocco was forced to get help from France to control these groups. Later on July 1, 1911, a gunboat was sent to the port of Agadir in Morocco by Germany. The gunboat, called the Panther, was brought to scare the French. Just like Germany's motivations during the First Moroccan Crisis, their motivations were to separate the alliance between France and Great Britain and to maintain Germany as a strong European power. The Panther caused tensions between Great Britain and Germany because of the competition between their navies. Britain saw the Panther as Germany trying to create a naval base at Morocco's Atlantic coast and interfering with their naval domination of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Moroccan Crises were two international conflicts that arose before Morocco was colonized by Spain and France from 1905 to 1911. Problems were mainly over imperialism. While most countries in Africa were being colonized, Morocco was still independent. Many European nations, the French in particular, wanted control over Morocco. France made secret treaties and agreements with different countries in order to gain control of Morocco. France attempting to make Morocco into a protectorate stirred up conflict, specifically with Germany. Germany, under Kaiser Wilhelm II, didn't want Morocco to become colonized by France. As a result, Germany actively tried to prevent the French in both the First and Second Moroccan Crises
The Entente Cordiale
The Entente Cordiale, which means "cordial agreement", was a group of agreements made between the two European countries, France and Great Britain. Both France and Great Britain representatives signed the agreements, which they came to by solving their disputes and compromising with each other. The Entente Cordiale was beneficial for both nations because it gave them both freedom to pursue their own interests in colonizing other countries. France was able to act on their interests in Morocco without interference from the British. Also, Britain was allowed to continue their actions in Egypt and the French couldn't do anything to stop their activity
First Moroccan Crisis
The First Moroccan Crisis began when Germany's Kaiser Wilhem II went to Tangier to provide his support to the sultan of Morocco on the topic of Morocco's independence. Kaiser Wilhelm visit angered the French and British. Although Wilhelm and the German government didn't have any specific interest in Morocco, there were other motivations. Wilhelm's goal in giving support to Morocco was to cause conflict and disrupt the alliance between France and Great Britain. Wilhelm didn't like that Germany wasn't being involved with decisions over what happened with North Africa. France had interest in colonizing Morocco and was already given permission to form a protectorate by Great Britain and Spain. By giving support to the Moroccans, the Kaiser hoped to interfere with France's activity in Morocco. Also, it was decided previously in a convention in 1880 that Morocco would be guaranteed independence. The agreement formed between France and Great Britain threatened to go against that decision and threatened Germany's influence on Europe. Another goal the Germans had in visiting the sultan was to prove to everybody else that France was weak by showing that they are unable to handle the situation caused by the Kaiser.
Algeciras Conference
The Algeciras Conference was an international conference that met in Agadir, Spain. The conference was held after the First Moroccan Crisis starting on January 16, 1906. The United States, Morocco, and many European nations, including France, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Austria-Hungary, all met in Spain to solve disputes after the Moroccan crisis. At the conference, representatives talked about what would happen with Morocco and France's involvement with Morocco. Germany went to Algeciras with a lot of confidence but the conference made it obvious that Germany was going to be in trouble because most of the countries agreed with France. In the end, France was given support by Great Britain, the United States, and other nations while Germany's only ally was Austria-Hungary. Germany realized that if they were to declare war on France, they would have many of the European countries against them, on France's side. Therefore, the Algeciras Conference helped prevent a war between the European nations.
Second Moroccan Crisis
The Second Moroccan Crisis or Agadir Crisis began when France brought troops over to the city, Fez, in Morocco to prevent rebellions. Earlier that year in March, France said that tribes and groups were causing trouble and planning to start a rebellion in Morocco. This meant that the city of Fez was in danger. As a result, the sultan of Morocco was forced to get help from France to control these groups. Later on July 1, 1911, a gunboat was sent to the port of Agadir in Morocco by Germany. The gunboat, called the Panther, was brought to scare the French. Just like Germany's motivations during the First Moroccan Crisis, their motivations were to separate the alliance between France and Great Britain and to maintain Germany as a strong European power. The Panther caused tensions between Great Britain and Germany because of the competition between their navies. Britain saw the Panther as Germany trying to create a naval base at Morocco's Atlantic coast and interfering with their naval domination of the Atlantic Ocean.