Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1777
A century after the English leave Tangier a royal wreck, Morocco gets revenge and be-
comes the irst country to recognise the breakaway British colony calling itself the United
States of America.
1830
France seizes the Algerian coast, increasing pressure on the Moroccan sultan to cede
power in exchange for maia-style protection along Morocco's coasts from the advancing
Ottomans.
1860
If at irst you don't succeed, try for seven centuries: Spain takes control of a swath of
northern Morocco reaching into the Rif.
1880
France, Britain, Spain and the US meet in Madrid and agree that Morocco can retain nom-
inal control over its territory - after granting themselves tax-free business licenses and
duty-free shopping.
1906
The controversial Act of Algeciras divvies up North Africa among European powers like a
bastilla
pigeon pie, but Germany isn't invited - a slight that exacerbated tensions among
European powers.
1912
The Treaty of Fez hands Morocco to the French protectorate, which mostly protects French
business interests at Moroccan taxpayer expense with the ruthless assistance of Berber
warlord Pasha el-Glaoui.
1921-26
Under the command of Abd al-Krim, Berber leaders rebel against Spanish rule of the Rif,
and Spain loses its foothold in the mountains.
1942
In deiance of Vichy France, Casablanca hosts American forces staging the Allied North
African campaign. This move yields US support for Moroccan independence and the clas-
sic Humphrey Bogart ilm
Casablanca.
