Mustafa Kemal Ataturk example essay topic

THE REPUBLIC PERIOD Modern Turkish Period (1923-Present) 1923 Establishment of the Turkish Republic with Ataturk as its first president 1924 Abolition of Caliphate 1925-38 Ataturk's program of reforms to modernize Turkey 1938 Death of Ataturk; Ismet Inonu becomes the Republic's second president 1939-45 Despite the alliance with Britain and France, Turkey remains neutral during World War II 1946 Turkey becomes a charter member of United Nations 1950 Turkey enters Korean War as a part of United Nations force; change from a single-party to a multi-party system 1952 Joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) The attempt of the victorious Allies to control the Anatolian territory led to the Turkish War of Independence (1918-23). Following the occupation of Istanbul in 1920 by the British, Italian and French, a Greek army advanced from Izmir deep into Anatolia. While the sultan offered no resistance, under the leadership of Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish Nationalists overturned the postwar settlement embodied in the Treaty of S'e vres (1920) and established the Republic of Turkey, formally recognized by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Mustafa Kemal retired his military uniform and inspired the people to an even greater task: Transformation of the country into the democratic, secular Republic of Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 1881 Birth of Mustafa in Salonika 1893 Enters Military Secondary School where he is given the name of Kemal 1899 Enters War College in Constantinople 1902 Graduates as lieutenant 1905 Posted to 5th Army in Damascus 1907 Posted to 3rd Army in Salonika 1908 'Young Turk' Revolution in Salonika 1911 Posted to General Staff in Constantinople; goes to Tobruk and Dern a with Turkish Forces, promoted to Major 1912 Balkan War; severe defeat, returns home 1913 Appointed Military Attach'e in Sofia 1914 Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel; Turkey signs secret alliance with Germany; Russia, Britain and France declare war on Turkey 1915 Appointed to reorganize 9th Division, in Thrace; unsuccessful allied naval attack on Dardanelles; allied military landing at Ariburnu (Anzac); promoted to colonel; appointed to command 16th Army Corps 1916 Allied evacuation of Gallipoli Peninsula; transferred to Caucasus front; promoted to General and Pasa 1917 Returns to Constantinople 1919 Appointed Inspector-General in Anatolia; lands in Samsun; issues 'Declaration of Independence' at Amaya; ordered by Government to return; resigns from the army; Nationalist Congress at Sivas and Erzurum; National Pact; new parliament elected; headquarters at Angora 1920 (April 23) First Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) at Ankara 1921 Consecutive battles against different enemies; given title of Gaz i and rank of Marshal by TGNA 1922 Izmir is retaken; proclaims abolition of Sultanate 1923 Treaty of Lausanne; People's Party; Second GNA; Angora (Ankara) becomes capital; proclamation of the Republic; becomes President; marries Latife in Izmir 1925 Divorces Latife 1938 Death of Ataturk; succession of Ismet Inonu as President of the Republic Thousands of his statues or busts and millions of his photos have been erected or hung all over the country. His name has been given to countless institutions, buildings, streets, parks and suchlike.

Foreigners unaware of his accomplishments might think that the Turks are a bit obsessed with a man now dead for approximately 60 years. No other nation on earth has loved a leader as much as the Turkish nation loves Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. ' Mustafa Kemal Ataturk differed from the dictators of his age in two significant respects; his foreign policy was based not on expansion but on retraction of frontiers; his home policy on the foundation of a political system which could survive his own time. It was in this realistic spirit that he regenerated his country, transforming the old sprawling Ottoman Empire into a compact new Turkish Republic...

I don't act for public opinion. I act for the nation and for my own satisfaction... It was a restless mind, nurtured on those principles of Western civilization which had influenced Turkish liberal thought since the nineteenth century; continually refueled by the ideas of others, which he adapted and adopted as his own; but always grounded in a common sense mistrustful of theory... ' His life He was born in Salonika in 1881 and named Mustafa. Kemal was a nickname meaning 'perfection' given by a tutor.

He was a good student and did well at the military academy. He was one of the early members of the Young Turks movement and a front-runner in the revolution which demanded a constitutional government for the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War, he fought on many fronts. In 1915, then a Lieutenant Colonel, Mustafa Kemal was commanding a division of troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula. His actions in the Dardanelles as a soldier of determination, bravery and brilliance gave him great standing amongst the soldiers. His successes against the Allies were well received by the civilian population and he was acclaimed as the 'Hero of Gallipoli'.

This man, a military genius, soon showed himself as a great statesman too. After calling national congresses, he was elected President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in April 1920. From then until his death in 1938, he remained in power in Turkey. In 1934 everyone had to take a surname and Mustafa Kemal received the surname ATATURK which means 'Father of the Turks'. With all that he did for his country, he really deserved this title.

Reforms 1924 Abolition of the Caliphate 1925 Abolition of the fez; suppression of religious brotherhoods; closing of sacred tombs as places of worship 1926 Adoption of new Civil Law code 1928 Introduction of Latin alphabet 1934 Kemal takes name of Ataturk when a new law required Turks to adopt surnames; women made eligible to vote in elections and to become members of Parliament Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's reforms can be summarized as follows: Abolition of the Sultanate and Caliphate; establishment of the Republic. Implementation of secularism nationwide. Abolition of the religious courts. Suppression of religious brotherhoods; closing of sacred tombs as places of worship. Replacement of traditional clothing by Western styles; abolition of the fez.

Abolition of Medreses, unification of education, renovations of school programs according to contemporary and national needs, opening of new universities. Adoption of new Civil Law code. Adoption of the solar calendar and changing of the Moslem holy day of the week, Friday, into a weekday with Sunday becoming the official day of rest. Introduction of Latin alphabet.

Purification of Turkish language from foreign words. Implementation of 'Peace at home, Peace in the world' as Turkish foreign policy.