280297712-ibhistory1studyguidetanzimatyoungturks.docx

The Tanzimat Reforms Background Following the revolts of the Greeks and Serbs in the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mahmud II saw how weak the once-glorious Empire was; there were obvious signs of decline, even since the Siege of Vienna. Like many great empires in history, such as the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire was in a period of extreme decline and fragmentation. This was evident to Mahmud II and his successors; therefore, a viable option that they saw was to reform the Empire to return it to its glory/prevent its collapse. (1839-1876) Social Aspects ● Educational Reforms ○ Education was a big part of the Tanzimat era. Rather than just focusing on education to better the military, education during the Tanzimat period dealt with Ottoman citizenship. ○ In 1859, the Civilian Service School was set up. ○ In 1868, the Ottoman Lycee was set up. (Imperial school, French style education). ○ French education was very influential for the Tanzimat. ○ This led to a new political/social elite of the Ottoman Empire. ○ Teacher schools and ● Ottoman citizenship/nationality ○ subjects → citizens ○ Nationality Law of 1869 → Ottoman affiliation becomes citizenship, creates a sense of Ottoman national identity in order to prevent nationalist revolts. ○ Aimed for asabiya (social solidarity) ● Slavery abolished ● Homosexuality legalized ● The role of women decreased ● Ulema had a smaller role. Political Aspects ● Legal Reforms ○ A new code of laws was put into place that combined Shari’ah law with aspects of the Napoleonic Code. ○ This was called the Mejelle. ● Secular Court System ○ Nizame courts were set up. ● Young Ottomans ○ Advocates for Ottoman democracy rather than absolutist monarchy. ○ Aimed to combine traditional Islam with modern methods. ○ Failures. ● Ottoman Constitution of 1876 = “The Fundamental Law of the Sultanate”

●

●

●

○ Limited the power of the Sultan. ○ The pressure to keep up with Europe through commercial laws. ○ Support from local elites. Administration ○ Wilayat Law (1864) → administrative councils elected. ○ There was a council of nobles which were appointed, as well as a council of delegates which were elected. ○ 1858 Ottoman Land Code Meclis-i Maarif-i Umumiye ○ 1841 ○ Ottoman parliament prototype. Many ministries were created with the bureaucratization of the Ottoman Empire.

Economic Aspects ● Paper banknotes introduced in 1840. ● Land Code in 1858 led to increased revenue for the Ottomans. ● Hatt-i Sharif of Gulhane ○ Abolishment of tax farming Religious and Cultural Aspects ● Breakdown of traditional Islam-dominated society. ● Hatt-i Humayun 1856 ○ Full equality of all religions in the Empire ○ Allowed non-Muslims to attempt to be exempt from the jizya tax ● Hatt-i Sharif of Gulhane ○ Abolished millet system Other Aspects ● Janissaries abolished to keep up with Western style militaries. ● Hatt-i Sharif of Gulhane ○ Standardized military conscription Significance to Ottoman History Like the French Revolution, most of the Tanzimat reforms were reversed by the next leader in power, Sultan Abdulhamid II. However, the Tanzimat reforms showed an attempt at modernizing the Ottoman Empire, which serves as a precursor to later reform movements, such as the Young Turks and Ataturk’s reforms in the Republic of Turkey. Historiography ● William L. Cleveland, “A History of the Modern Middle East” → dualism between traditional and modern in Ottoman society = negative effect

Young Turks

Background Abdulhamid II becomes sultan in 1876 (thanks to Midhat Pasha), and basically reverses most of the Tanzimat reforms. However, the children of the Tanzimat, the newly educated social and political elite known as the Young Turks, are very dissatisfied with Hamid. Therefore, they carry out a coup d’etat in 1908, ushering in new reforms. Social Aspects ● Turkish nationalism ○ Ottomanism = failure → Turkish nationalism and Pan-Turkism ○ Led to strong basis for republic of Turkey ○ Lack of governmental and civil support ● Armenian Genocide ○ Preventing nationalist revolt at the expense of millions of lives ● Enlightenment ideals on agenda ● Secularized society ○ Science → religion ○ New secular laws ● New political rights/freedoms ● Suppression of peasants ● Improved position of women ○ Universal suffrage ● Education → even primary education ○ Free education ● Alienation of ulema ○ Anti-shari’ah law Political Aspects ● Enver Pasha → OME to ally with the Central Powers (Turko-German Alliance 1914) ○ Led to Ottoman defeat in WWI → collapse ○ Preventable? ● Reinstated Ottoman constitution ● Deposed of Abdulhamid II and made the sultanate essentially powerless ○ End of absolute monarchy → new era in Ottoman government ○ Fully? → totalitarian CUP ● Larger bureaucracy/centralization of OME government ● Electoral machine of OME in the hands of CUP ● Poor foreign policy → loss of territory ○ Balkan Wars Economic Aspects ● Tax reforms → harsh on peasants ○ Alongside centralization came increased taxes ● Strike Law of 1910

● ● ●

○ Negative for the working class ○ Made it difficult to organize strikes by outlawing labor unions Promotion of industrialization ○ Law for the Encouragement of Industry 1909 State-directed economy Needed money for reform ○ New monopolies ○ New methods of tax-collecting to increase revenue

Religious and Cultural Aspects ● Secular society Significance to Ottoman History The Committee of Union and Progress was the last strong ruling body in the Ottoman Empire before it dissolved and became the Republic of Turkey. It is arguable if the Young Turk revolution influenced the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire; however, it is imperative to discern that the developments of the CUP were influential in providing a basis for modern Turkey. Historiography ● Edward Frederick Knight, “The Awakening of Turkey: A History of the Turkish Revolution” → CUP needed $$$ to reform, yet constitution prevented increase of direct taxation on OME citizens