Difference between revisions of "Young Turk Revolution" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| − | Young Turk | + | The Young Turk movement began among exiled Ottomans in places such as [[Paris]] and [[Geneva]]. It was influenced by the [[French Revolution]] and in turn influenced the Constitution of 1876. That Constitution had been suspended by the autocratic Sultan, Abdul Hamid II in 1878. The movement, however, continued to gather momentum. The Young Turks wanted a democratic solution to the Empires problems, which included the need for [[economics|economic]] reform, [[tax]] reform and halting any further disintegration. From 1881, Ottoman finances were handled by the Ottoman Public Debt Administration, appointed by [[Europe|European]] creditors. Almost all Balkan provinces were now independent states. Although nationalistic, the Young Turk movement opted for a multi-[[ethnicity|ethnic]] understanding of the Ottoman space. By granting greater autonomy to different [[ethnic groups]] it hoped to preserve the Empire. The movement was "fighting for the modernization and strengthening of the Empire, under Western constitutional principles, and these included the [[equality]] of all [[race|races."<ref>Glenny, 214.</ref> Support for the movement came from diverse groups, including some of the different ethnic and religious communities.<Glenny, page 212.</ref> In 1906, the various diaspora based organization united with the Salonika-based |
| + | Ottoman Society for Liberty to form the Committee of Union and Progress, effectively a political party. This was dominated by the officers of the Third Army. Fearing the army, the Sultan was starving it of funds.<ref>Glenny, page 214.</ref> In an effort to "throttle the conspiracy" the Sultanm deployed thousands of secret agents but it continued to thrive. Although some members wanted to abolish the sultanate, most wanted to impose constitutional limitations on the sultan's power. From the outset, members believed that a revolution would be necessary to end the sultan's authoritarian rule. | ||
| − | |||
===Congress of the Ottoman opposition=== | ===Congress of the Ottoman opposition=== | ||
| − | Two congresses of opposition to the Ottoman regime were held, one in 1902 and the other in 1907. The second occurred in Paris, France. The leadership included [[Ahmed Riza]], [[Sabahheddin Bey]], [[Khachatur Maloumian]]. The goal was to unite all parties, including [[Young Turks]], to advance the revolution. | + | Two congresses of opposition to the Ottoman regime were held, one in 1902 and the other in 1907. The second occurred in Paris, France. The leadership included [[Ahmed Riza]], [[Sabahheddin Bey]], [[Khachatur Maloumian]]. The goal was to unite all parties, including [[Young Turks]], to advance the revolution. The "Second congress of the Ottoman opposition" took place in [[Paris]], [[France]] in 1907. Opposition leaders including [[Ahmed Riza]] (liberal), Prince Sabaheddin, and [[Khachatur Maloumian]] of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation were in attendance. During the meeting, an alliance between the two parties was officially declared. The ARF decided to cooperate with the Committee of Union and Progress, hoping that if the Young Turks came to power, autonomy would be granted to the Armenians. |
| − | |||
| − | |||
==The Revolution== | ==The Revolution== | ||
===Revolt=== | ===Revolt=== | ||
| − | + | It was, in the end, continued discontent in the 3rd Army Corps that sparked the revolt. Major [[Ahmed Niyazi]], fearing discovery of his political ideas by an investigatory committee sent from the capital, decamped from Resen on July 3, 1908 with 200 followers demanding restoration of the constitution. The sultan's attempt to suppress this uprising failed, due to the popularity of the movement among the troops and general population and the rebellion spread rapidly. On July 24, Abdül Hamid announced restoration of the constitution. | |
| − | |||
===Reconvening of the Parliament=== | ===Reconvening of the Parliament=== | ||
| − | + | Elections were held and parliament was re-opened by the Sultan on December 17th. | |
| − | The alliances of the | + | The alliances of the Young Turks and expatriate organizations of various ethnic groups, such as the [[Armenian Revolutionary Federation]], began to fracture, and indeed the Young Turks struggled to find consensus even among themselves. |
The [[Committee of Union and Progress]]'s adoption of an aggressive form of [[Ottomanism]] failed, its opponents regarding it as tantamount to [[Turkification]], further straining relations among ethnic minorities and their fledgling government. | The [[Committee of Union and Progress]]'s adoption of an aggressive form of [[Ottomanism]] failed, its opponents regarding it as tantamount to [[Turkification]], further straining relations among ethnic minorities and their fledgling government. | ||
Revision as of 18:48, 17 December 2008
The Young Turk Revolution of July 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan the Abdul Hamid II, who abdicated, marking the return to Constitutional government. The Young Turk movement brought together various intellectuals and dissidents, many living in exile and officers in the army, especially those based at the headquarters of the Third Army Corps in Salonika. Although inspired by the spirit of nationalism that was sweeping through Europe which had already had cost the Empire most of its Balkan provinces, the movement promoted a vision of a democratic multi-national state. Some support for the movement came from Bulgarians, Arabs, Jews, Armenians and Greeks. Various Young Turk organizations combined in 1906 forming the Committee on Union and Progress (CUP), which would govern the Empire from 1908 until 1918.
The Revolution restored the parliament, which had been suspended by the Sultan in 1878. However, the process of replacing existing institutions with constitutional institutions proved much more difficult than expected and before long power was invested in a new elite, led by the Grand Vizier. The movement wanted to modernize and democratize on the one hand while on the other it wanted to preserve what was left of the empire. The promised decentralization was abandoned when the leaders realized that this compromised security. In fact, the periphery of the Empire continued to splinter under pressure from local revolutions. Indifference from former allies such as the British which, as did France had ambitions in the region, the Young Turks were compelled to embrace Germany as an ally in the hope that this would preserve the empire. Instead, this alliance led to the Ottoman defeat in World War I and to the end of their own power after the war. However, they laid some of the ground on which the new nation-state of Turkey would be built under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, himself a Young Turk. The potential democratization project represented by the Young Turk Revolution had at the time no parallel among other imperial powers, such as the British and French who were no where near contemplating granting self-determination to their African and Asian possessions.
Background
The Young Turk movement began among exiled Ottomans in places such as Paris and Geneva. It was influenced by the French Revolution and in turn influenced the Constitution of 1876. That Constitution had been suspended by the autocratic Sultan, Abdul Hamid II in 1878. The movement, however, continued to gather momentum. The Young Turks wanted a democratic solution to the Empires problems, which included the need for economic reform, tax reform and halting any further disintegration. From 1881, Ottoman finances were handled by the Ottoman Public Debt Administration, appointed by European creditors. Almost all Balkan provinces were now independent states. Although nationalistic, the Young Turk movement opted for a multi-ethnic understanding of the Ottoman space. By granting greater autonomy to different ethnic groups it hoped to preserve the Empire. The movement was "fighting for the modernization and strengthening of the Empire, under Western constitutional principles, and these included the equality of all [[race|races."[1] Support for the movement came from diverse groups, including some of the different ethnic and religious communities.<Glenny, page 212.</ref> In 1906, the various diaspora based organization united with the Salonika-based Ottoman Society for Liberty to form the Committee of Union and Progress, effectively a political party. This was dominated by the officers of the Third Army. Fearing the army, the Sultan was starving it of funds.[2] In an effort to "throttle the conspiracy" the Sultanm deployed thousands of secret agents but it continued to thrive. Although some members wanted to abolish the sultanate, most wanted to impose constitutional limitations on the sultan's power. From the outset, members believed that a revolution would be necessary to end the sultan's authoritarian rule.
Congress of the Ottoman opposition
Two congresses of opposition to the Ottoman regime were held, one in 1902 and the other in 1907. The second occurred in Paris, France. The leadership included Ahmed Riza, Sabahheddin Bey, Khachatur Maloumian. The goal was to unite all parties, including Young Turks, to advance the revolution. The "Second congress of the Ottoman opposition" took place in Paris, France in 1907. Opposition leaders including Ahmed Riza (liberal), Prince Sabaheddin, and Khachatur Maloumian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation were in attendance. During the meeting, an alliance between the two parties was officially declared. The ARF decided to cooperate with the Committee of Union and Progress, hoping that if the Young Turks came to power, autonomy would be granted to the Armenians.
The Revolution
Revolt
It was, in the end, continued discontent in the 3rd Army Corps that sparked the revolt. Major Ahmed Niyazi, fearing discovery of his political ideas by an investigatory committee sent from the capital, decamped from Resen on July 3, 1908 with 200 followers demanding restoration of the constitution. The sultan's attempt to suppress this uprising failed, due to the popularity of the movement among the troops and general population and the rebellion spread rapidly. On July 24, Abdül Hamid announced restoration of the constitution.
Reconvening of the Parliament
Elections were held and parliament was re-opened by the Sultan on December 17th. The alliances of the Young Turks and expatriate organizations of various ethnic groups, such as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, began to fracture, and indeed the Young Turks struggled to find consensus even among themselves.
The Committee of Union and Progress's adoption of an aggressive form of Ottomanism failed, its opponents regarding it as tantamount to Turkification, further straining relations among ethnic minorities and their fledgling government.
Results
A significant result of the 1908 Young Turk Revolution was
- The gradual creation of a new governing elite.
- Opening a path for consolidation over the Ottoman civil and military administration, Coup of 1913.
- Young Turks, small organizations, consolidated under the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP).
- Committee of Union and Progress became the new power center in Ottoman politics.
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation replaced the pre-1908 Armenian elite, which had been composed of merchants, artisans, and clerics who had seen their future in obtaining more privileges within the boundaries of the state's version of Ottomanism.[citation needed]
- The Muslim Albanian elite, who had greatly benefited from the Hamidian regime in return for their fidelity to the sultan, was also replaced by an intellectual-nationalist elite. With members such as Bajram Curri, Nexhib Draga, and Myfit Libohova, the revolution aimed at uniting Albanians of three different faiths under the flag of Skenderbeu and called for reforms for the benefit of all Albanians.
- In some communities, such as the Jewish (cf. Jews in Islamic Europe and North Africa and History of the Jews in Turkey), reformist groups emulating the Young Turks ousted the conservative ruling elite and replaced them with a new reformist one.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Additional resources
- M. Şükrü Hanioğlu, Preparation for a Revolution: The Young Turks, 1902-1908, Oxford University Press 2001, ISBN 0-19-513463-X
- Esther Benbassa, Un grand rabbin sepharde en politique, 1892-1923 (Paris, 1990), page 27-28
See also
- Young Turks
- Committee of Union and Progress
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