fco_319898 - MOROCCO - FRENCH PROTECTORATE Essai large en piefort de 50 Centimes en bronze aluminium, 14 grammes n.d. Paris

MOROCCO - FRENCH PROTECTORATE

1912-1956

Morocco opened up to European trade at the end of the 18th century. The country remained divided in the 19th century between French influence (bombardment of Tangier and Mogador), British and Spanish and became a stake in the rivalry of its powers, to which Germany joined in 1905. The incident of Agadir in 1911 is regulated by the negotiation between France and Germany which accepts the French protectorate on Morocco against a band of territory in Congo. Lyautey, resident general, pacifies the country while the High Atlas resists until 1934. Following major works, the country is quickly transformed but France increasingly imposes its direct administration without taking into account the protectorate. Nationalism then continued to gain ground and the defeat of 1940 led to increasingly large demonstrations..