Moroccan Crises

• The 1st Moroccan Crisis
  • In 1905 the Kaiser decides to test the strength of the Entente Cordiale (1909)
  • Part of the Entente was that Great Britain gave France hegemony in North Africa, especially Morocco. The Kaiser, in his infinite wisdom, sails his yacht to Tangiers (with 5 battleships).
  • Once his gets to Morocco, the Kaiser rides his white horse out onto the dock into town and makes a speech proclaiming Moroccan Independence and open the door for the region.
  • This is too close to Gibraltar for British comfort, and they feel that it is threatening their marine lifeline.
  • It causes an international crisis that ends with Algeciras Conference in 1906. The result is a strengthening of the Entente Cordial, and increased the desire to add a humbled Russia in 1907.
• The 2nd Moroccan Crisis
  • In a 2nd attempt to break up the Entente Cordiale, the Kaiser sends a gunboat to Morocco to Agadir when the Moroccans uprise.
  • The French object strenuously, the Germans won't give up, and the Kaiser decides he will leave Morocco if France breaks off a piece of French Equatorial Africa.
  • Heightens war tensions, delays actual war.