young turk revolution, Study Guides, Projects, Research of History

Download young turk revolution and more Study Guides, Projects, Research History in PDF only on Docsity! YOUNG TURK REVOLUTION A revolutionary movement against the authoritarian regime of Ottoman sultan Abdülhamid II, which culminated in the establishment of a constitutional government. BACKGROUND  The reign of Abdülhamid II (1876–1909) is often regarded as having been a reaction against the Tanzimat, but, insofar as the essence of the Tanzimat reforms was centralization rather than liberalization, Abdülhamid may be seen as its fulfiller rather than its destroyer. o Tanzimat, (Turkish: “Reorganization”), series of reforms promulgated in the Ottoman Empire between 1839 and 1876 under the reigns of the sultans Abdülmecid I and Abdülaziz. o These reforms, heavily influenced by European ideas, were intended to effectuate a fundamental change of the empire from the old system based on theocratic principles to that of a modern state.  the formation of an elaborate spy system enabled the sultan to monopolize power and crush opposition.  in 1876, constitutional monarchy had been established under Sultan Abdul Hamid II during a period of time known as the First Constitutional Era, which only lasted for two years before Abdul Hamid suspended it and restored autocratic powers to himself. When the sultan abandoned the previous politics from 1876, he suspended the Ottoman Parliament in 1878.  His brutal repression of the Armenians in 1894–96 earned him the European title “red sultan.”  He was more successful in obstructing European efforts to force the introduction of substantial reforms in Macedonia.  Several conspiracies took place against Abdülhamid.  The conspirators came to call themselves the Committee of Union and Progress((CUP) and were commonly known as the Young Turks.  When the plot was discovered, some of its leaders went abroad to reinforce Ottoman exiles in Paris, Geneva, and Cairo, where they helped prepare the ground for revolution by developing a comprehensive critique of the Hamidian system.  The young officers who had instigated the revolution, like their civilian supporters, were primarily concerned with preserving the Ottoman Empire; they feared that Hamidian policies and European interventions were endangering its existence.  The origins of the revolution lie in the organization of two political factions. Neither agreed with Abdul Hamid's reign, but each had separate interests. o The Liberals were the upper-class groups in the Ottoman Empire and desired a more relaxed form of government with little economic interference. o In a slightly lower class formed a different group- the Unionists. Members were of working class and foremost wanted a secular government. o These two groups initially formed out of the same intent- to return to the old constitution, but cultural differences divided them.  IMPORTANT LEADERS  Murad Bey- Murad Bey preached liberal ideas combined with a strong Islamic feeling.  Ahmed Rıza - His advocacy of a strong central government within the Ottoman Empire and the exclusion of foreign influence led to a major split within the Young Turk exiles. 2