Young Turk Revolution
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| Armenian Genocide |
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| Early elements |
| Hamidian Massacres · 1896 Ottoman Bank Takeover · Adana Massacre · Young Turk Revolution |
| The Genocide |
| April 24, 1915 · Tehcir Law · Armenian casualties of deportations · Ottoman Armenian casualties |
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| Responsible parties |
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Young Turk Revolution was a watershed event, in 1908 that brought second constitutional era and marked the beginning of dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
Even though, named as "Young Turk", it was supported by many ethnic groups, such as ARF, given the fact that wide spread public uprisings. The revolution was supported by some military units, cited as main reason for its achievement. National sentiments behind the uprisings were cited in Abdul Hamid II's reestablishment of the constitution of 1876 (first constitutional era) with a new Ottoman parliament, which was interestingly given as a reason to dismantle the first parlement. The parliament would represent different groups. The success of the revolution to replace the monarchal institutions and policies with constitutonal institutions and electoral policies has been a matter of debate. Having the parliament without having the sentiments to keep the unity of the empire, was hardly claimed as a solution to reverse the dissolution of the empire.
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[edit] Background
There were two congresses; first one in 1902 and second congress of the Ottoman opposition which took place in Paris, France in 1907. The leadership was Ahmed Riza, Sabahheddin Bey, Khachatur Maloumian. Khachatur Maloumian was a leader of Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The goal was to unite all the parties, including Young Turks, to move along the revolution. However, some of the differences, such as on nationalism, were so great they could not form an alliance.
[edit] Revolt
The discontent within the 3rd Army Corps in Macedonia was the main reason behind the revolt. Major Ahmed Niyazi, fearing discovery of his political moves by an investigatory committee send by capital, on July 3, 1908, decamped from Resne with 200 followers with a demand for the restoration of the 1887 constitution. The sultan's attempt to suppress this uprising failed as most of the other troops were part of the movement. Rebellion spread rapidly. on July 24 Abdülhamid announced the restoration of the constitution.
[edit] Political Consequences
The Young Turks and the expatriate organizations of the various ethnic groups, such as Armenian Revolutionary Federation, had in prior to the revolution worked on the same line to brought the new system begin to show their differences. The separate groups did not able to find common ground during their years in opposition. After the revolution their disagreements grew in importance, since they gained the upper hand in the administration of the empire and of community affairs.
The Committee of Union and Progress's adoption of an aggressive Ottomanism failed, which its opponents considered tantamount to Turkification, strained relations even more.
[edit] Results
A significant result of the 1908 Young Turk Revolution was
- The gradual creation of a new governing elite (see donme).
- 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.
- 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 (see more at 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.
[edit] References
- M. Şükrü Hanioğlu, Preparation for a Revolution: The Young Turks, 1902-1908, Oxford University Press 2001, ISBN 019513463
- Esther Benbassa, Un grand rabbin sepharde en politique, 1892-1923 (Paris, 1990), page 27-28
