I can see… I can infer…

Germany’s growing aggression: The Moroccan crisis The Causes of WW1 Germany’s growing aggression: The Moroccan crisis

Learning Objectives To identify why Germany would want an Empire in the early 20th century. To evaluate the importance of the Moroccan crisis. To explain their significance in causing WW1.

Why might countries want colonies? Imperialism Provided cheap raw materials for industry. Were a market to trade goods with. e.g. Britain took £1000 million in tax/goods from India between 1750-1900 Could act as military bases Why might countries want colonies?

French Empire 1900

British Empire 1900

German Empire 1900 How would Germany feel?

Moroccan Crisis Using the information in your packs in groups of three discover the causes, events and consequences of the two Moroccan crises. Keep in your mind; how would this increase tension in Europe? Between Who?

1905 1911 Causes: Causes: Events: Events: Consequences: Consequences:

1905/6 The First Moroccan Crisis 1911 The Second Moroccan Crisis France wanted Morocco to complete her empire in North Africa. In 1904 Britain and France agreed the Entente Cordiale (Anglo-French Entente). This Entente gave France a free hand in Morocco. The Kaiser, however, decided to interfere in Morocco because; He wanted to test the strength of the Entente and believed he could split the agreement. He did not believe Britain would stand by France over Morocco. He did not want to see France extend her North African Empire. In 1905 the Kaiser paid a visit to the Moroccan port of Tangiers. There he made a speech in which he declared that Morocco should remain independent of France. This sparked off a crisis. France backed by Britain, refused to back down but did agree to the Kaiser’s demands for an international conference/meeting to discuss the future of Morocco. The conference took place at Algerciras at Spain. It was a disaster for the Kaiser. Only Austria-Hungary backed his demands for Moroccan independence. Britain supported the French. France was more or less allowed to do what they wanted in Morocco. The Kaiser had suffered a terrible defeat. He blamed this defeat on the British and their support for France. Wilhelm II’s actions had achieved the opposite of what he had hoped. They had strengthened the Entente Cordiale. The crisis was important because already there was a starting to become a division of Europe and Germany had lost against France because France now had some control over Morocco, also the Entente Cordiale was strengthened and Britain started to change its policy of splendid isolation and started to take notice of European matters. To add to this Britain and France secretly started military talks about Germany after their fears grew about her. This shows that even in 1905/06 plans were already being drawn up for war and sides were beginning to form.  1911 The Second Moroccan Crisis 1911 the ruling Sultan of Morocco faced a rebellion and decided to call on France for help, France sent an army to Morocco and the rebellion soon went away. However Germany’s reaction to this was to send a gunboat the Panther to the port of Agadir this was to protect the German people’s interests in Morocco. The Germans saw nothing wrong with this action as France had sent an army to look after their interests, but to other countries, especially Britain it was viewed as war like stance. The British thought that Germany was going to build a naval base in the Atlantic to challenge Britain’s naval base in Gibraltar.  The naval action of Germany sending the gunship the Panther led to Britain once again supporting France. This overreaction by the Germans brought Europe very close to war and all countries involved made preparations for war in 1911. The situation was resolved when Germany accepted two marshy strips of land in the Congo for recognising and accepting that France had control over Morocco.  The second crisis was far more serious than the first and is key to the building up for war as it shows a clear division in Europe between the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. It increased tensions rapidly and sped up a chain of events that led to the First World War. The Triple Alliance was weakened when Italy opposed what happened in Morocco; Germany now felt humiliated and decided that if another crisis arose then they would not back down. The German people were annoyed with Britain and France and now more than ever supported the idea and need for a war. Britain now became convinced that Germany was a threat and that it wanted to dominate Europe. Britain entered another secret agreement with France, this time it was a naval one, they promised to defend each other if attacked.

Britain’s perspective France’s perspective Germany’s perspective

“The Morocco Crises were merely a skirmish in the melee of international diplomacy. They had no significant impact on the course of European history in the 20th Century” author How far do you agree?