Ataturk

In Turkey, Mustafa Kemal, or Ataturk, emerged as the leader following the collapse of the old Ottoman government. A professional soldier by training, Ataturk embarked on an ambitious program of Westernization. He eliminated both the old Ottoman sultanate and the caliphate and created a parliamentary state with himself as the president. Using nationalism and his enormous personal popularity, Ataturk attempted to alter the entire structure of Turkish society. He banned the wearing of veil by women, forced men to wear Western hats rather than the traditional fez, and even had a new alphabet created based on Western models. Although Ataturk was an authoritarian ruler, he bequeathed to Turkey a relatively effective legislative democracy that survived long after his death. In contrast, many of his reforms regarding religion and the status of women were not as permanent. He had to overcome his controversies with the division between the Young Turks. He was ousted by them in his earlier years but overcame it by becoming a war hero against Great Britain during WWI. He then had to overcome treaties from WWI; he did this by forming treaties with Russia and France, isolating the UK and Greece so they wouldn't have the support it would take to stop Turkey when they tried to gain independence. He destroyed Greece and then got the terms of the Treaty of Versailles taken away and gained sovereignty. Although he claimed he wanted a democracy when legitimate opposition came up (Devout Muslims and Ethnic Minorities) he killed them. He wanted to westernize and modernize, but ended up westernizing society more than government. His westernization is seen in the change of dress and also the granting of rights to women--women gained many new rights in Turkey. He attempted modernization and westernization in government but ended with just a modernized concept. He wanted a democracy and put forth efforts to do so, but ended up not westernizing completely as the republic he formed was not about rights.

Here are the notes from the day we talked about him in class:

Dispute among Young Turks During WWI, Ataturk is out of power Becomes a war hero, then has a second problem: tries to overcome the treaty Tries to overcome it with nationalistic opposition and western reforms, which appeal to nationalists Makes treaties with Russia, France Isolates Britain and Greece Dividing the allies, just like the Peace of Paris Kills Greece, takes off all the restrictions that the treaty created Then makes secularism: new alphabet, changes clothing He is able to do that because of the Young Turks Problem 3: Devout Muslims (oppose secularism), ethnic minorities (oppose ethnic nationalism) he kills them all

Ataturk- Problem 1 Dispute Among Young Turks- wants to go to triple entente- enver wants Central Powers At first, Ataturk is out War Hero Problem 2 Treaty Nationalist opposition Western Reforms- appeal to the west and Turk nationalist Makes Treaties with Russia and France Isolates Britain and Greece Mandates Britain doesn't have support and divides the allies Divides and demands change which France agrees upon Westernizes and Secularizes because young turks had this idea before Problem 3 Devout Muslims Ethnic Minorities oppose- want own self determination- ethnic nationalism Power base is turkish nationalists- opposes ethnic minorities

Ataturk had to gain power. He has to overcome the treaty by creating an opposition to nationalism. He proposes Western reforms. He makes treaties with France and Russia, while he isolates Great Britain and Greece. Not everyone agreed with Paris Peace and it caused further division. After he defeated Greece, he wants a new government to created a strong Turkey. He created a secular Turkey. Muslims were opposing secularism so he kills them.


 *  Attaturk
 *  Dispute within the Young Turks to go with the triple entente instead of the triple appliance
 *  The young Turks want to westernize and modernize
 *  He becomes more powerful by rising up as a war hero
 *  He is trying to overcome the treaty of treaty because he was a looser
 *  He overcomes this by Nationalism and by imposing western reforms because he believes that those will appeal to the western powers.
 *  He also makes treaties with Russia and France
 *  These isolate Britain and Greece
 *  And he does this so that Britain can't enforce the treaty that hurts him.
 *  The Turks accepted this because the idea was already there(young Turks)
 *  There still was a problem the DEVOUT MUSLIMS
 *  But don't worry he kills them.
 *  The other problem is the Ethnic Minorities
 *  They oppose ethnic nationalism