Moroccan Crises

Question 1

When were the moroccan crises?

Answer 1

Morocco - 1905

Agadir - 1911

Question 2

Explain the causes of the first moroccan crisis

Answer 2

• Morocco had a good position of strategic imporance at the mouth of the meditarranean sea - from the mid 19th century the great powers had been interested in events there
• Morocco was not controlled by the EU but in 1904 Britain and France agreed that it fell in France’s ‘sphere of influence’ - which angered Wilhelm who wanted his ‘place in the sun’

Question 3

Events of first moroccan crisis?

Answer 3

In 1905 the Kaiser visited Tangier and gave a speech about Moroccan independance and open to the peaceful competition of all nations for trade.

He called for an international conference (The Algeneras Conference - 1906) to discuss the future of Morocco - this was aimed to stop France from occupying morrocco and testing the strength of the Entente Cordiale

Question 4

Outcomes of first moroccan crisis?

Answer 4

• France and Spain were given joint control of Moroccan police
• The Entente Cordiale was strengthened
• Kaiser was humiliated as he was forced to back down by Britain - and angered by drawing together of France, Russia and Britain (feared encirclement and became even more resentful)

Question 5

Causes of the Agadir crisis?

Answer 5

A rebellion broke out in Fez (the capital) - the Sultan appealed to French for help

Question 6

Events of Agadir?

Answer 6

• The French army went to Morocco to sort the rebellion out - this made Germany fear a French take over
• Kaiser sent the gunboat ‘Panther’ to safeguard German commercial interests

→ Britain was worried that Germany would build a naval base and also sent warships

• The use of a gunboat was seen as warlike
• War preperations were made by Germany, Britain and France but eventually in 1911 Germany backed down and accepted compensation of 100,000 square miles of the French congo (mostly swamp and jungle)

Question 7

Outcomes of Agadir?

Answer 7

• Germany felt humiliated and was unlikely to back down in any future crisis
• German people annoyed with Britain - public opinion was starting to support the idea of war
• Britain became more convinced that Germany wanted to dominate Europe
• Britain made a secret naval agreement with France (Britain promised to defent the North of france if attacked by sea and France promised to defent the Mediterranean
• Italy opposed Germany over Agadir which weakened the triple Alliance (meant Germany relied more heavily on A-H)