Content-Type: text/html

# History of Turkey

HomePage | RecentChanges | Preferences
You can edit this page right now! It's a free, community project

The history of modern Turkey begins with the foundation of the republic on Oct. 29, 1923, with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as its first president. On March 3, 1924, the assembly abolished the ministry of sacred law, all schools were placed under the ministry of education and a new constitution was approved on April 20, 1924. For the next 10 years the process of secular westernization was established by Atatürks reforms. On May 24, 1928, the international numerals replaced the Arabic numerals.

After the foundation of the Liberal Republican Party by Fethi Okyar, the fanatically religious groups joined to well-intentioned liberals and consecutively widespread bloody disorders took place especially in the eastern territory. The liberal party was dissolved on Nov. 17, 1930 and no further attempt for a multiparty democracy was made until 1945. Turkey was admitted to the League of Nations in July 1932. Atatürks successor after his death on Nov. 10, 1938 was Ismet Inönü. When all its western neighbours were under Axis occupation during World War II, Turkey signed a peace treaty with Germany and officially remained neutral until the end of war. On Feb 1945 it declared war on Germany and Japan. Turkey joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 1952.

By the influences of liberal intellectuals and religious fanatics the multiparty government returned by 1950 elections. However, the load of expensive imports, economical fluctuations, high inflation rates and consecutive social conflicts ended with army interventions on May 1960 and September 1980. After 1983 elections first The Motherland Party and then several coalitions remained in control of the government.

HomePage | RecentChanges | Preferences
You can edit this page right now! It's a free, community project
Edit text of this page | View other revisions
Last edited April 17, 2001 12:47 am (diff)
Search: