Tələbə : Musalı Ramiz

Fakültə : Tarix

İxtisas : Tarix

Fənn : Xarici dildə isgüzar və akademik kommunikasiya

Qrup : T-1130

Kurs : 1

Müəllim : Günel Məmmədova

Mövzu : Ataturk's role in Turkiye's history

 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the founding father of the Repuclic of Turkiye . He was born ın
Thessaloniki , which is a part of Greece now . Atatürk's leadership played a pivotal role in the Turkiye's
war of independence . He served as the Commender-in- Chief during the this war . Ataturk's vision
was to modernize and secularize Turkiye . He introduced a series of reforms known as the Kemalist
Reforms . One of his most significant reforms was the adoptain of the Latin alphabet . As a result of
adoptation Latin alphabet , turkish became easier to learn. Ataturk's leadership during the Turkish
war of İndependence led to the establishment of the Repuclic of Türkiye october 29 , 1923 with him
as its first president . He introduced the principle of secularism in new Turkish state , ensuring the
separation of religion and government. Atatürk promoted the emancipation of women in Turkiye by
granting them the right to vote and run for political office before many other countries. Under his
leadership , Turkiye adopted a new civil code , which abolished many traditional and discriminatory
practices against women . Ataturk encourged industrialization and modernization of the Turkish
economy to improve the country’s overall wellfare . He initiated a nationwide education campaign to
increase literacy rates and acces to education , building a foundation for the future .

He founded the People's party (CHP) , which played a significant role in shapping Turkish politics
for decades. Atatürk was a military leader as well, having served in World War I and later leading the
Turkish forces during the War of Independence.He is often referred to as “Atatürk,” which means
“Father of the Turks,” a title given to him by the Turkish Grand National Assembly.Atatürk’s
mausoleum, Anıtkabir, located in Ankara, is a prominent symbol of his legacy and is visited by millions
of people each year.He passed away on November 10, 1938, but his ideas and legacy continue to
shape modern Turkey.Atatürk’s image and principles are celebrated on national holidays such as
Republic Day and Youth and Sports Day.He encouraged a strong sense of patriotism and love for the
Turkish nation.Atatürk promoted the use of the Turkish language in all aspects of life, fostering a
sense of national identity.His leadership in establishing a modern legal system helped Turkey
transition from a monarchy to a democratic republic.Atatürk’s commitment to science and education
led to the establishment of universities and research institutions.He aimed to bridge the gap between
the East and West by adopting elements of Western culture while preserving Turkish heritage .
Atatürk’s legacy is a source of inspiration not only for the people of Turkiye but also for those who
admire his vision of progress and modernization. His principles, known as Kemalism, continue to
influence Turkish politics and society.The Republic of Turkey State Railways, Turkish Airlines, General
Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Institute of Public Health, Turkish Aeronautical
Association, Sümerbank, Etibank, Turkish Historical Society, Turkish Language Association, Presidency
of Religious Affairs, and many other public institutions were established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk or
with his support. He supported the development of domestic agriculture, textile, machinery, aircraft,
and automobile industries. However, the gap between Atatürk’s goals and the country’s sociopolitical
structure did not close.Following the declaration of the Republic, in the presidential election that
took place, with the participation of all 158 Members of Parliament, Gazi Mustafa Kemal was elected
as Turkey’s first President with the unanimous votes of the entire parliament. Atatürk, with the goal
of elevating Turkey to the level of contemporary civilizations, initiated a series of profound changes.
According to the 1924 Constitution, after the presidential election of October 29, 1923, Gazi Mustafa
Kemal was re-elected as President three more times in 1927, 1931, and 1935 by the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).During Atatürk’s presidency, İsmet İnönü, Fethi Okyar, and Celâl Bayar
served as Prime Ministers. İsmet İnönü, who served for the longest period and led the most
governments during this era, stands out. During Atatürk’s presidential term, a total of eight
governments were formed.On March 3, 1924, the “Tevhîd-i Tedrîsât” Law was passed in the Turkish
Grand National Assembly (TBMM), leading to the closure of traditional Islamic schools (medreses)
and the transfer of all educational institutions within the borders of the Republic of Turkey to the
Ministry of National Education. This consolidation of educational institutions aimed to nationalize
education.On the same date, a law was passed in the TBMM to abolish the institution of the caliphate
in Turkey.On February 17, 1925, the “aşar” tax, which accounted for a significant portion of the state’s
revenue but was burdensome for farmers, was abolished to ease the burden on peasants and
promote increased production.On November 25, 1925, the Hat Law (Şapka Kanunu) was adopted,
which made it mandatory for TBMM members and government officials to wear Western-style hats,
and the Turkish populace was also encouraged to follow this practice.On November 30, 1925, a law
was passed in the TBMM to close Sufi lodges, religious retreats (zaviyeler), and tombs, which was
published in the Official Gazette on December 13, 1925.The Ottoman Empire’s use of time, calendars,
and measurements differed from those of European nations, creating difficulties in social,
commercial, and official relations. Efforts to address these differences in the late Ottoman period
were insufficient. In the Republic era, measures were taken to this situation. On December 26, 1925,
a law was enacted to replace the Hijri and Rumi calendars with the Gregorian calendar, which started
to be used from January 1, 1926. Additionally, the Ottoman time system, which was based on sunset,
was replaced with the contemporary international system of dividing a day into 24 hours.In 1928,
international numeric figures were adopted. In 1931, a law was enacted to abolish previously used
measurement units such as arşın, endaze, and okka, replacing them with the meter for length and the
kilogram for weight. These changes established uniform measurement standards in the country. In
1935, a law was passed to change the weekly day off from Friday to Saturday afternoon and Sunday,
creating a weekend. The Civil Code, which was translated and adapted from the Swiss Civil Code in
1926, was accepted and became effective on October 4, 1926. This law restructured Turkish family
life, introducing monogamous marriage and official marriage ceremonies, as well as achieving
equality in inheritance.On March 1, 1926, the Turkish Penal Code, numbered 765 and prepared based
on the 1889 Italian Code, was accepted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and put into effect.
On November 1, 1928, the Turkish Grand National Assembly passed a law regarding the adoption of
new Turkish letters. Following the acceptance of this law, People’s Schools (Millet Mektepleri) were
established with the aim of teaching the population how to read and write. On November 24, 1928,
Atatürk was declared the Chief Teacher of People’s Schools. Women were granted the right to vote
and run for office in local elections in 1930 and general elections in 1934.On July 12, 1932, the Turkish
Language Society was founded upon the instructions of Atatürk. In the congress held in 1934, the
society’s name was changed to the Turkish Language Research Institute, and in the 1936 congress, it
was renamed the Turkish Language Institution. A Turkification policy was implemented to create a
homogenous and united nation. Non-Turkish minorities were pressured to speak Turkish, non-Turkish
place names were converted to Turkish, and the surnames of minorities were also translated into
Turkish.Another institution established under Atatürk’s guidance is the Turkish History Institution. The
Turkish History Research Committee, formed to research Turkish history and civilization, held its first
meeting on June 4, 1930, and elected its board of directors. After the decision to close the Turkish
Hearths at the 7th Congress of Turkish Hearths on March 29, 1931, it reorganized under the name
Turkish History Research Society on April 12, 1931, and continued its work. The institution’s name
was changed to the Turkish History Research Institution in 1935 and later to the Turkish History
Institution.According to the Surname Law enacted on June 21, 1934, every Turk would have a
surname in addition to their given name, which would be used jointly by their family. These surnames
were required to be in Turkish, and names that were against morality or ridiculous were not allowed
as surnames. After the acceptance of the Surname Law, on November 24, 1934, the Turkish Grand
National Assembly gave Mustafa Kemal the surname “Atatürk.”With a law passed on November 26,
1934, titles and honorifics such as Ağa, Hacı, Hafız, Hoca, Molla, Efendi, Bey, Beyefendi, Paşa, Hanım,
Hanımefendi, and Hazretleri were abolished.On December 3, 1934, a law was enacted that prohibited
the wearing of certain garments. This law banned religious leaders of any faith or sect from wearing
religious attire outside of places of worship and religious ceremonies. The government could grant
permission for a single religious leader from any faith or sect to wear religious attire outside of places
of worship and ceremonies as it deemed appropriate.During his presidency, Atatürk recognized the
property rights not only of bureaucrats but all citizens, and from 1923 to 1938, the Turkish economy
experienced an average annual growth rate of approximately 7.5%. This growth elevated Turkey’s
GDP from 0.0362% of the world total to 0.0652%. Under Atatürk’s leadership, the Republic of Turkey
became one of the world’s fastest-developing nations.During Atatürk’s presidency, the main foreign
policy topics included the Mosul Question, the Turkey-Greece Population Exchange, Turkey’s entry
into the League of Nations, the Balkan Pact, the Montreux Straits Convention, the Saadabad Pact, and
the Hatay Issue.Atatürk considered the Treaty of Lausanne, signed on July 24, 1923, a defining factor
in Turkish foreign policy. With the exception of the Hatay issue, this treaty largely determined the
boundaries of the Republic of Turkey as outlined. In terms of the economy, Turkey did not make
concessions regarding the capitulations abolished by the Treaty of Lausanne.During the Treaty of
Lausanne, the Turkey-Iraq border was not established. The presence of rich oil fields in the Mosul-
Kirkuk region, particularly drawing the attention of the United Kingdom, was a crucial issue. This area
with abundant oil reserves had been under British occupation during the signing of the Armistice of
Mudros. After World War I, a British-controlled administration was established in Iraq, placing the
country under British mandate. However, the British were reluctant to relinquish control over the oil-
rich region.During the negotiations of the Treaty of Lausanne, no resolution was reached on this
matter, and it was decided that the issue would be resolved later between Turkey and the United
Kingdom. Negotiations began in 1924 but were inconclusive. Subsequently, the issue was brought to
the League of Nations. In October 1924, the League of Nations convened and delineated the Turkey-
Iraq border, leaving the Mosul region within Iraq’s territory.On February 13, 1925, the Sheikh Said
Rebellion erupted. While the rebellion was completely suppressed by April 15, it served the interests
of the British. The Turkish army, fresh from the War of Independence, was weakened, and the
possibility of a military operation towards Mosul and Kirkuk was eliminated. In this context, on June
5, 1926, Turkey, in accordance with the Ankara Agreement signed with the British, accepted the
border prescribed by the League of Nations in exchange for certain material benefits.Atatürk’s health
began to deteriorate in 1937. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis at the beginning of 1938, and doctors
from Europe were brought in to treat him. One of the physicians who cared for him was Mehmet
Kâmil Berk, and he continued his medical care until Atatürk’s passing on October 15, 1938. Despite
the efforts of Turkish and foreign doctors, his worsening health did not respond to treatment.Atatürk
passed away on the morning of November 10, 1938, at 9:05 AM in the Dolmabahçe Palace in
Istanbul. His funeral was conducted with a ceremony and his remains were escorted to Ankara. On
November 21, 1938, after another ceremony, he was placed in a temporary tomb in the Ankara
Ethnography Museum. Fifteen years later, on November 10, 1953, he was laid to rest in his eternal
resting place at Anıtkabir, which was built in his honor.