mustafa Kemal ataturk "Father of the turks"
After World War 1, the Ottoman Empire fell and the Turks fought to preserve their own land. They were essentially trying to build a modern nation at the same time as fighting off of Western influence. Kemal Ataturk came into play, and was a determined and dynamic nationalistic leader who initially overthrew Western occupation in Turkey and declared Turkey as a republic. Ataturk’s goal was to ultimately modernize Turkey and create a secular state separated from religion and government. Under his reign of power, he not only helped Turkey flourish in many radical forms, but he changed political values, cultural, economic, legal, and social standards in Turkey.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born in 1881 in the city of Salonika, a port city of the Ottoman Empire. When he was about twelve years old, he was sent to military school and then went to military academy soon after where he then learned the essential skills on how to become a prosperous military leader. His true potential as a military leader was revealed on May 19th, 1919 when Ataturk started the war of Independence also known as the Greco-Turkish War. After a long year of war, on April 23rd 1920, Ataturk was given the role as the president of Turkey. That day that Ataturk was elected president was the day that changed Turkey forever.
Similar to Peter the Great of Russia; he wanted to westernize and modernize Turkey. In achieving this, Ataturk replaced customary Islamic ideas of Turkey with new advanced beliefs of Western Europe. Ataturk enforced a new law code based on European models and changed long-term traditions that no one ever thought of being changed. For example, he discarded the Muslim Calendar in favor of the Western Christian Calendar and replaced the Arabic script which was used in Turkey, with the Latin alphabet which was used by Western Europeans. He also closed religious schools and made people dress like they were Western, causing Turkey to become more western and modernized, and Ataturk wanted to make Turkey economically independent. The government of Turkey helped the country expand and progress in many ways. They built new roads and railroads, set up factories, and hired Western Europeans to advise them on how to create a strong and flourishing economy. In addition to these transformations, Ataturk also allowed women to vote and to be unveiled. Many loved Ataturk’s beliefs and considered him a hero and appreciated the new change with his strict rule. They were in favor of Ataturk because he turned Turkey into a powerful, modern, and well-respected nation while the traditional Islamic customs provided them proper guidance and stability. Ataturk’s rule primarily inspired Iran, who had affairs with Britain and the Russians at the time, and Iran needed the same boost that was given to Turkey. Ataturk’s brilliant leadership qualities ultimately led Turkey to develop into a modernized and westernized nation and led the Turkey to prosper. Because of this, Mustafa Kemal takes his new name as "Kemal Ataturk" meaning "father of the turks."
Citations:
-"Mustafa Kemal Ataturk." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
-"Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938)." Bbc.co.uk. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.
Picture Citation:
"Mustafa Kemal Atatürk." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born in 1881 in the city of Salonika, a port city of the Ottoman Empire. When he was about twelve years old, he was sent to military school and then went to military academy soon after where he then learned the essential skills on how to become a prosperous military leader. His true potential as a military leader was revealed on May 19th, 1919 when Ataturk started the war of Independence also known as the Greco-Turkish War. After a long year of war, on April 23rd 1920, Ataturk was given the role as the president of Turkey. That day that Ataturk was elected president was the day that changed Turkey forever.
Similar to Peter the Great of Russia; he wanted to westernize and modernize Turkey. In achieving this, Ataturk replaced customary Islamic ideas of Turkey with new advanced beliefs of Western Europe. Ataturk enforced a new law code based on European models and changed long-term traditions that no one ever thought of being changed. For example, he discarded the Muslim Calendar in favor of the Western Christian Calendar and replaced the Arabic script which was used in Turkey, with the Latin alphabet which was used by Western Europeans. He also closed religious schools and made people dress like they were Western, causing Turkey to become more western and modernized, and Ataturk wanted to make Turkey economically independent. The government of Turkey helped the country expand and progress in many ways. They built new roads and railroads, set up factories, and hired Western Europeans to advise them on how to create a strong and flourishing economy. In addition to these transformations, Ataturk also allowed women to vote and to be unveiled. Many loved Ataturk’s beliefs and considered him a hero and appreciated the new change with his strict rule. They were in favor of Ataturk because he turned Turkey into a powerful, modern, and well-respected nation while the traditional Islamic customs provided them proper guidance and stability. Ataturk’s rule primarily inspired Iran, who had affairs with Britain and the Russians at the time, and Iran needed the same boost that was given to Turkey. Ataturk’s brilliant leadership qualities ultimately led Turkey to develop into a modernized and westernized nation and led the Turkey to prosper. Because of this, Mustafa Kemal takes his new name as "Kemal Ataturk" meaning "father of the turks."
Citations:
-"Mustafa Kemal Ataturk." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
-"Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938)." Bbc.co.uk. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.
Picture Citation:
"Mustafa Kemal Atatürk." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.