Lesson Starter 06: Year 10 History

Focus: Source Analysis

Source A:

This source is called, “The Mailed Fist of Agadir”. It is a German source It was published in 1911.

Source B

On March 31, 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany arrived in Tangiers to declare his support for the sultan of Morocco, provoking the anger of France and Britain in what will become known as the First Moroccan Crisis, a foreshadowing of the greater conflict between Europe's great nations still to come, the First World War.

A Second Moroccan Crisis flared in April 1911, when the French pushed troops into the country, claiming to be defending the sultan against riots that had erupted in Fez but actually violating the terms of the Algeciras convention. In response, Germany sent its own warship, the Panther, which arrived in the port of Agadir on May 21, intensifying the enmity between the two nations and, by extension, their allies. Slightly more than two years before the outbreak of World War I, then, the two Moroccan crises left no doubt that the traditional power balance in Europe had shifted into large blocs of power, with Germany relatively isolated on one side—enjoying only lukewarm support from Austria-Hungary and Italy—and Britain, France, and Russia on the other.

Questions for Homework:

(a) Why was Germany so keen to interfere in Morocco in 1905 and 1911?

(b) Why were the results of the Moroccan Crises so disappointing for Germany?

(c) Study Source A and B: what are the messages regarding the aims and methods Germany will use in its quest for colonies?

(d) Study Source A and B: what are the similar messages being suggested by the two sources?

(e) Study source B: What is the purpose of the source? (why was it made?) Explain your thinking.

Past Paper Question for Homework: June 2013

Source C From a private letter sent by the German Chancellor in 1911 after the Moroccan (Agadir) Crisis.

It was sent to a member of the German government who supported war.

Source C

Had I allowed war to break out, our fleet would have been destroyed by Britain. The German people would then have asked me why. Why risk all this for Morocco or the Congo?

Do you agree that the reasons given by the German Chancellor were the main reasons for Germany backing own in the Moroccan (Agadir) Crisis, 1911?

Explain your answer by referring to the purpose of the source, as well as using its content and your knowledge. (6 marks)