The Moroccan Crises were two international incidents, the first in 1905-6 and the second in 1911, when Imperial Germany, eager to expand its empire, threatened France's presence in Morocco. France's position was supported by Britain and Russia, meaning Germany was obliged to back down twice. Although not a direct contributor to war, the Moroccan Crises certainly caused a strengthening of alliances and worsened the atmosphere of international distrust then prevalent in Europe, a distrust which was itself one of the primary causes of WWI as Europe shifted into two mutually opposed alliance groups.
More about: Moroccan CrisesDefinition
Timeline
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1905 - 1906The First Moroccan Crisis where Germany threatens French dominance in Morocco.
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Apr 1906The Algeciras Conference gives France and Spain a policing role an independent Morocco. France is to control Morocco’s central bank.
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1911The Second Moroccan Crisis where Germany again threatens French control of Morocco.
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Nov 1911An international convention gives France the right to establish Morocco as a protectorate. Germany is given a slice of French Congo as compensation.
