Document I1
From: a speech by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany to the North German Regatta Association,
1901
“In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we should have, we have conquered for
ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall
remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our
activity and trade in foreign parts, that our industry and agriculture may develop within the state
and our sailing sports upon the water, for our future lies upon the water.”
Document I2
In March 1911, French authorities claimed, rebel tribes staged an uprising in Morocco….The
sultan appealed to France for help restoring order, which led the French to send their troops to
Fez on May 21. Germany, however, wary of French power in Africa, believed the French had
fomented the tribal revolt to create an excuse to occupy Morocco. The German foreign secretary,
…neglected to consult key personnel, including the chiefs of the armed forces, before sending a
naval cruiser, the Panther, to anchor in the harbor of Agadir on Morocco’s Atlantic coast,
asserting Germany’s claims of French aggression on July 1 in an attempt to encourage resistance
against the French among the native population.
…After Russia…gave its support to France…and Austria-Hungary failed to lend Germany even
its diplomatic support, the Germans were forced to back down. In the ensuing negotiations,
concluding November 4, Germany reluctantly agreed to recognize the French protectorate over
Morocco in return for territorial concessions—which they deemed inadequate—in other regions
of Africa.
Meanwhile, military talks began between the British and French….,A powerful Germany found
itself increasingly isolated, with only tenuous support from its fellow Triple Alliance members,
Austria-Hungary and Italy. As Helmuth von Moltke, chief of the German general staff, wrote to
the German chancellor, Theobald Bethmann von Hollweg in a memorandum dated December 2,
1912: All sides are preparing for European War, which all sides expect sooner or later.
From: The Second Moroccan Crisis; History.com <http://www.history.com/this-day-inhistory/second-moroccan-crisis>
Document I3
HW Poon, “Causes of the First World War (1914-18)” Dated: 1 Dec. 2001.
<http://www.thecorner.org/wwi/wwi.htm>
Italy turned to Germany and Austria when she lost Tunis to France in 1881. Russia and Britain
could patch up their differences and form an entente in 1907 as a result of their mutual fear of
Germany's expansionist activities in the Balkans. Russia, Britain and France could become firm
friends after 1907 partly because of aggressive attitude of Germany in both the first and the
second Moroccan crises.
Document I4
Document I5
From: Mary Evelyn Townsend, European Colonial Expansion Since 1871 (Chicago: J.P.
Lippincott Company, 1941), p. 19; Extent of Colonization
Area of country
(in Sq. Miles)
Population
Area of Colonies
Population of Colonies
Great Britain
94,000
France
212,600
Belgium
11,800
Germany (1914)
210,000
45,500,100
13,100,000
470,000,000
42,000,000
4,300,000
65,000,000
8,300,000
940,000
13,000,000
67,500,000
1,100,000
13,000,000