French protectorate in Morocco
1912–1956 protectorate in northwest Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The French protectorate in Morocco,[5] also known as French Morocco, was the period of French colonial rule in Morocco that lasted from 1912 to 1956.[6] The protectorate was officially established 30 March 1912, when Sultan Abd al-Hafid signed the Treaty of Fez, though the French military occupation of Morocco had begun with the invasion of Oujda and the bombardment of Casablanca in 1907.[6]
This article is missing information about Moroccan National Movement. (January 2020) |
French protectorate in Morocco | |||||||||
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1912–1956 | |||||||||
Anthem: | |||||||||
Status | Protectorate of France | ||||||||
Capital | Rabat | ||||||||
Official languages | French | ||||||||
Common languages | |||||||||
Religion | Sunni Islam Judaism Roman Catholicism | ||||||||
Government | Absolute monarchy (under colonial administration) | ||||||||
Sultan | |||||||||
• 1912–1927 | Yusef | ||||||||
• 1927–1953 | Mohammed V | ||||||||
• 1953–1955 | Mohammed VI[lower-alpha 1] | ||||||||
• 1955–1956 | Mohammed V | ||||||||
Resident-General | |||||||||
• 1912–1925 (first) | Hubert Lyautey | ||||||||
• 1955–1956 (last) | André Louis Dubois | ||||||||
Historical era | Interwar period | ||||||||
30 March 1912 | |||||||||
• Independence | 7 April 1956[4] | ||||||||
Currency | Moroccan rial (1912–1921) Moroccan franc (1921–1956) French franc (de facto official) | ||||||||
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The French protectorate lasted until the dissolution of the Treaty of Fez on 2 March 1956, with the Franco-Moroccan Joint Declaration.[7] Morocco's independence movement, described in Moroccan historiography as the Revolution of the King and the People, restored the exiled Mohammed V but it did not end the French presence in Morocco. France preserved its influence in the country, including a right to station French troops and to have a say in Morocco's foreign policy. French settlers also maintained their rights and property.[8]
While the agreements with France had provided for interdependent foreign relations, Franco-Moroccan relations quickly worsened following Mohammed V's outspoken support for Algerian independence including at the United Nations.[9] The number of French settlers declined constantly,[10] especially after their agricultural holdings were nationalized.[11] Relations with France were to improve once the last French troops finally left Morocco in November 1961.[12]
The French protectorate existed alongside the Spanish protectorate, which was established and dissolved in the same years; its borders consisted of the area of Morocco between the Corridor of Taza and the Draa River, including sparse tribal lands.[13] The official capital was Rabat.