It was established by the law of 22 July 1909 for award to soldiers participating in the Second Franco-Moroccan War under the command of general (and future Marshal of France) Hubert Lyautey.

[1] Long time French colonial interests in North Africa led to tensions between European nations but particularly disturbed Germany.

Early in the new century, France pushed established international agreements to their limits bringing tensions to a high point in the Agadir Crisis.

The clasps were earned as follows:[4] In accordance with Article 1° of the decree of 4 June 1913, the Morocco commemorative medal (1909) was awarded with the "MAROC" clasp to:[5] Article 2° of the same decree stated that actions or service after the law of 22 July 1912 were not be considered for award of the Morocco commemorative medal (1909), instead, these later operations, such as in 1915 and then from 1925 to 1926 to put down the tribal revolt in the Rif mountains directed by the nationalist leader Adb el-Krim, were instead awarded the Colonial Medal (French: "Médaille coloniale"), with campaign clasps for "Maroc 1915" or "Maroc 1925–1926".

The reverse, representing both the army and navy, bears the relief images of an infantry rifle crossed with a naval anchor below two military banners and lances surmounted by the relief inscription "MAROC" (English: "MOROCCO"), the banners bore the inscriptions "HONNEUR ET PATRIE" (English: "HONOUR AND COUNTRY") and the words "CASABLANCA", "HAUT-GUIR", and "OUDJDA".