Aug 10, 2016 in december 1777, moroccan sultan muhammad iii included the united states of america in a list of countries to which moroccos ports were open. Why did george washington write a letter to muhammed ibn. Us united states is not the same as america 2 totally different jurisdictions and geographical areas, it was in 1789 and it is in 2018. Treaties and other international agreements of the united states of america 17761949 bevans subject. The friendship between our two countries goes back to 1777 when moroccos sultan mohammed iii, the current kings namesake, was the first head of state, and morocco the first country, to recognize the new united states. Until the 19th century, it was common for north african pirates known as the barbary pirates to attack european ships and enslave the people they took hostage thus feeding the. The sultan of morocco mentioned american ships in a consular document in 1777, but congress had to wait until the 1778 treaty of alliance with france for a formal recognition of u. In 1777, the colonies independence was boosted after being recognized by the sultan of morocco. In december 1777, the moroccan sultan muhammad iii included the united states in a list of countries to which moroccos ports were open. In 1787 a treaty of peace and friendship was signed in marrakech and ratified in 1836.
Morocco, a majoritymuslim nation, the first to recognize. Today, it is surrounded by thick overgrown vegetation along holland road, forgotten and in ruins. Morocco was also the first country to sign a treaty of peace and friendship with the united states. Dear susan radomsky and early american history colleagues. Feb 02, 2015 ive noted more than once that morocco had actually been trying to get our attention since 1777, when, on december 20, 1777, the sultan of morocco, sidi muhammad bin abdullah, also known as sultan muhammad iii, issued a decree allowing any ship bearing the flag of the new united states of america, to put in at moroccan ports. Sultan muhammad iii of morocco archives the arab daily news. Muslims for america since july 4, 1776 the arab daily news.
Because the americans asked morocco for protection. When the united states declared its independence in 1776, england withdrew its. In 1777, morocco was the first country to recognize the united states after it declared its independence on july 4, 1776. The united states and morocco, 17761956, by luella jemima hall author. His eldest son, sultan ali iskandar shah died 1877, hired irish architect george. The united states and morocco, 17761956, 9780810803381. This action, under the diplomatic practice of morocco at the end of the 18 th century, put the united states on an equal footing with all.
Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member. Mar 30, 2020 on this day in 1905, kaiser wilhelm of germany arrives in tangiers to declare his support for the sultan of morocco, provoking the anger of france and britain. On this day in 1905, kaiser wilhelm of germany arrives in tangiers to declare his support for the sultan of morocco, provoking the anger of france and britain. On july 4, 1776, the declaration of independence was adopted. About to set out for new yorkconduct of general wardfrys recordaffairs in carolinadisposition of the ministrytendency to independenceputnam to lead the attack on the britishthe boston loyalists and their pitiful conditionbritish vessels at newport lead to sullivans being sent there. Samuel huntington to the sultan of morocco, december 1780, in. The declarations most important diplomatic effect was to allow for recognition of the united states by friendly foreign governments.
Jul 10, 2019 a sultan was originally a person of religious authority. Right of protection in morocco home library of congress. He was the son of prince abbas and succeeded to his uncle mohammed iv. One of the most enlightened of morocco s eighteenthcentury rulers, he was concerned with expanding his countrys commerce with other nations. In 1786 under sultan mohammed iii morocco became the first african state, and the first muslim state to sign a treaty with the united states on 20 december 1777, sultan mohammed ben abdallah commissioned the. In the preface of an interesting and insightful book, usmorocco 17761956, luella j. This treaty, which established the basis for american extraterritorial rights in morocco, was modified and renewed in 1836 and again in 1886, and remained in effect until 1956. Washingtons plea to the sultan of morocco in the americas. On moroccos contribution to american independence by larry e. It is surprising that the part played by the us in morocco since 1776 has been almost entirely neglected in both american history and in the. In the preface of an interesting and insightful book, us morocco 1776 1956, luella j. In 1786 he signed an agreement with sultan sidi mohammed, which was ratified by congress on 18 july 1787. Mohammed abutalib, morocco and the american civil war, in the atlantic connection. The sultan sent a friendly letter to the president of congress with the treaty and included another from the moorish minister, sidi fennish, which was highly complimentary of barclay.
Jerry loftus and the staff of the tangier american legation institute for moroccan studies in tangier, morocco. In 1930, the house was renovated by sultan ibrahim iskandar 18731959, son of sultan abu bakar and the 22 nd sultan of johor. Media in category sultans of morocco the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. In 1871 the sultan of morocco, fearful that his country might be partitioned by. Right of protection in moroccojuly3, 1880 75 they shall furnish annually to the said minister a list of the names of the persons protected by them or by their agents throughout the states of the, sultan of morocco. The sultan issued a declaration on december 20, 1777, announcing that all vessels sailing under the american flag could freely enter moroccan ports. Morocco recognized the united states on june 23, 1786, when a treaty of peace and friendship was signed by u. Appointed by the sultan to serve as consul for all the nations unrepresented in morocco, caille wrote on behalf of the sultan to franklin from cadiz on april 14, 1778, offering to negotiate a treaty between morocco and the united states on the. The sultan of morocco pays his first visits to france and lays wreath on tomb of the unknown warrior. The rain did not fall for over seven years from 1776 to 1782, and the. Jun 30, 2005 on morocco s contribution to american independence by larry e.
This is the list of rulers in morocco, since the establishment of the first in 789. The ottoman rulers used the term sultan for almost their entire dynasty. From george washington to sidi mohammed, 1 december 1789. Caliph is a disputed title that commonly means the leader of the muslim world. Morocco has been constantly overlooked and overshadowed by the needs of other countries. Morocco extraterritoriality encyclopedia of american foreign policy. Appointed by the sultan to serve as consul for all the nations unrepresented in morocco, caille wrote on behalf of the sultan to franklin from cadiz on april 14, 1778, offering to negotiate a treaty between morocco and the united states on the same terms the sultan had negotiated with other powers. President bill clinton, king mohammed vi of morocco, greet dignitaries and offer warm toasts to one another at the lavish official state dinner at the white house. At the declaration of our independence on july 4, 1776, two of the first three heads of states who recognized the sovereignty of the united states were muslims. Moroccan and american sources regard the sultans initiative towards. One of the most enlightened of moroccos eighteenthcentury rulers, he was concerned with expanding his countrys commerce with other nations.
Sidi mohamed ben abdellahs diplomatic initiatives towards the. The sultan of morocco diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the grayishblue diamond category due to its enormous size of 35. In 1786 under sultan mohammed iii morocco became the first african state, and the first muslim state to sign a treaty with the united states on 20 december 1777, sultan mohammed ben abdallah commissioned the dutch consul in sale to write letters to the european merchants and consuls in tangier, sale, larache and mogador stating that vessels sailing under the american. George washington writes a letter to the sultan of morocco. This letter is addressed to our great and magnanimous friend, his imperial majesty, the emperor of morocco. This list shall be transmitted to the local authorities, who shall consider. Years later he was asked by the alaouite sultan to make the usa befriend the kingdom. Jun 30, 2017 this action, under the diplomatic practice of morocco at the end of the 18 th century, put the united states on an equal footing with all other nations with which the sultan had treaties. Officers in acting charge of vice consulates being subjects of the sultan, shall, during the exercise of their functions, enjoy the same rights as con sularagents whoaresubjectsof thesultan. Minister thomas barclay and sidi muhammad, sultan of morocco, at marrakech. Morocco thus became the first country whose head of. Abdullah in 1790, george washington wrote to the new sultan. Convention signed at tangier may 31, 1865 senate advice and consent to ratification july 5, 1866. In 1778 a treaty of alliance with france was signed, and the us was officially independent.
Moroccan sultan sidi muhammad ibn abdallahs diplomatic. Dec 12, 2017 on june 28, 1776, the final draft was presented before congress. Why was morocco the first nation to recognize americas. Morocco under french and spanish control, 19121956. Tise an unintended treatise in the form of a letter hshear hnet discussion network for the scholars of the history of the early american republic june 30, 2005 original source. The 18 th ruler of johor, sultan hussein muazzam shah ibni mahmud shah alam 17761835, built the original istana kampong glam at beach road in 1819 after he signed a treaty with sir stamford raffles, ceding singapore to the british as a trading post. The sultan stated that orders had been given to his corsairs to let the ship des americains and those of other european states with which morocco had no treatiesrussia malta, sardinia.
Morocco entered the official archives of the united states. The common and formal titles of these rulers has varied, depending on the time period. George washington wrote a letter pleading with the sultan of morocco for permission to reside and engage in commerce in the americas without being destroyed. Muslims for america since july 4, 1776 did you know that the muslim contribution and participation to the united states of america began at the birth of our nation. In 1777, caid tahar ben abdelhak fennish was sent by mohammed ben abdellah to negotiate a treaty with the french to free moroccan captives. In fact, delacroix scorned the opportunity to commemorate an event doomed to oblivion. A sultan was originally a person of religious authority. Diplomatic, and consular relations, by country, since 1776. Luella hall, the united states and morocco, 17761956. The origin is undetermined, with the earliest recognized possession of the diamond having taken place in 1840 russia. In 1517, ottoman sultan selim i captured the caliph in cairo and adopted the term.
Ive noted more than once that morocco had actually been trying to get our attention since 1777, when, on december 20, 1777, the sultan of morocco, sidi muhammad bin abdullah, also known as sultan muhammad iii, issued a decree allowing any ship bearing the flag of the new united states of america, to put in at moroccan ports. The sultans decision was made after tension erupted between morocco and france over a number of french slaves. In july 1776, two weeks after the declaration of independence. George arents collection, the new york public library. Currently viewing archives from sultan muhammad iii of morocco archives the arab daily news. By elhoussine lahsini morocco world news casablanca, march 20, 2012 the history of moroccanamerican relations dates back to the late eighteenth century, when the sultan sidi muhammad ben abdellah. In december 1777, moroccan sultan muhammad iii included the united states of america in a list of countries to which moroccos ports were open. Thomas jefferson to john page, 20 august 1785, the papers of thomas jefferson, 8. Hassan i, sultan of morocco 187394, whose policy of internal reforms brought his country a degree of stability previously unknown and who succeeded in preserving the independence of that north african nation. Instead, he concentrated on creating a spectacular openair scene in bright light, with vivid colours and. To the sultan of morocco 1789 the letter to the sultan of morocco, from president george washington is one of the favorites amongst the documents of american history, as it clearly indicates the newly formed united states of america, under the first masonic president, george washington, was subordinate to and dwelling on the dominions of. In 1776, the year the thirteen colonies declared their independence from great britain, morocco was a relatively stable monarchy under the sway of sidi muhammad ibn abdallah. Resolution, 7 may 1784, journals of the continental congress, 17741789, 26. During the same year mohammed iii decided to appoint tahar fennish as moroccos ambassador to france.
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