Turkey's Political History (1920-1939)

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Questions and Answers

What prompted Turkey to acquiesce to the League's decision regarding Mosul in 1926?

Independence of the region

Control over oil revenues (correct)

Support for neighboring states

A military agreement

What was the outcome of the investigation sent by the League to the District of Alexandretta in 1937?

It was found to be mainly Turkish (correct)

The area was declared independent

France retained control indefinitely

A new administration was established

Who succeeded İsmet İnönü as Prime Minister of Turkey in 1937?

Celal Bayar (correct)

Şükrü Saraçoğlu

Refik Saydam

Mustafa Kemal

What was the primary distinction between the economic policies of İsmet İnönü and Celal Bayar?

Bayar saw statism as a temporary necessity Signup and view all the answers

When was the Republic of Hatay proclaimed?

September 1938 Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the Kadro journal published between 1932 and 1934?

To transform the RPP elite into a vanguard for the Kemalist revolution Signup and view all the answers

What was the relation between the Franco-Turkish Treaty of 1921 and the District of Alexandretta?

It declared the district an autonomous region Signup and view all the answers

Which individual became the national leader (milli şef) after Mustafa Kemal passed away in November 1938?

İsmet İnönü Signup and view all the answers

What year did the Turkish Women’s Union close down?

1935 Signup and view all the answers

Which civil codes were adopted by Turkey in 1926?

Swiss civil code and Italian penal code Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the Society for the Study of the Turkish Language founded in 1932?

To purify Turkish of Persian and Arabic influences Signup and view all the answers

In what year was the use of the new Latin alphabet made compulsory in public communications?

1929 Signup and view all the answers

What was banned in Turkey as part of the attack on religious symbols?

Wearing of the fez and turban Signup and view all the answers

Who maintained their positions during the purge of the teaching staff at Istanbul University in 1933?

Dependable followers of the Kemalist line Signup and view all the answers

What year was the caliphate abolished in Turkey?

1924 Signup and view all the answers

The Sun-Language Theory was officially accepted in which year?

1936 Signup and view all the answers

What was the main outcome of the closure of the Progressive Republican Party in June 1925?

It marked the silencing of political opposition. Signup and view all the answers

Which event directly involved a reactionary group calling for the restoration of the caliphate?

Menemen Incident Signup and view all the answers

Which political program was officially declared at the RPP Congress in 1931?

The Six Arrows Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Law on the Maintenance of Order enacted in February 1925?

To suppress opposition and maintain public order. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the Republican People's Party (RPP) is accurate?

It officially declared a one-party state in 1931. Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred at the RPP Congress in 1936 regarding the relationship between the state and the party?

Congruence between state apparatus and party organization was declared official policy. Signup and view all the answers

Which document narrated the history of the Turkish National Movement from 1919 to 1927?

Speech (Nutuk) Signup and view all the answers

What was formed by Fethi Okyar in August 1930?

Free Republican Party Signup and view all the answers

What economic approach was formulated at the First Economy Congress in İzmir in February 1923?

A mixed economic program based on private ownership and state intervention Signup and view all the answers

Which industry was NOT specifically recommended for development in Turkey's industrialization program after the Economic Crisis of 1929?

Automotive Signup and view all the answers

What major agreement regarding Ottoman public debt was reached in 1928?

An agreement about repayments was established Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the negotiations regarding the Mosul Question in the 1923-1924 period?

Britain's insistence on including Mosul in Iraq was upheld Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred during the Montreux Conference in 1936 concerning the Straits?

Demilitarization and establishment of control by the Straits Commission Signup and view all the answers

What was a key aspect of Turkish foreign policy in the 1930s?

Maintenance of good relations with the Soviet Union and nearby nations Signup and view all the answers

Which economic organization was founded in 1933 to help manage Turkish industry?

Sümerbank Signup and view all the answers

Which pact was established in 1937 focusing on Turkey and its neighbors?

Sadabad Pact Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

History of the Republic of Turkey

The presented material is about the history of the Republic of Turkey.
The lectures cover various aspects of the period, including political structures, economic policies, and significant historical events.
The key themes are one-party states, opposition silencing, secularization, nationalism, language reform, and foreign policy.
There is a focus on events such as the Split of the Turkish National Movement, the establishment of the Progressive Republican Party (PRP), Seyh Sait Revolt, the Law on the Maintenance of Order, and the closure of the PRP.
The lecture also discusses the İzmir Conspiracy, the Purge of the Unionists, and historical speeches like the Nutuk.

One-Party State

The political system in Turkey was declared a one-party state in 1931.
Six Arrows were adopted as the programme of the Republican People's Party (RPP).
Republicanism, nationalism, populism, secularism, revolutionism (reformism), and etatism were important elements in the RPP's program.
The congruency between the state apparatus and the party organization was declared official policy.
The governor of each province became the head of the RPP branch in that province.
Autonomous cultural and political organizations were closed down.
The Turkish Hearts (Türk Ocakları) were closed down in 1931.
People's Homes (Halk Evleri) and People's Rooms (Halk Odaları) replaced the Türk Ocakları in 1932 and 1935 respectively.
The Turkish Women's Union (Türk Kadınlar Birliği) was closed down in 1935.

Opposition Silenced

The Progressive Republican Party (PRP) was established in November 1924.
The Seyh Sait Revolt occurred in February 1925.
The Law on the Maintenance of Order (Takrir-i Sükun Kanunu) silenced opposition.
The PRP was closed down in June 1925.
The İzmir Conspiracy and the purge of the Unionists were significant events during this period.
The Speech (Nutuk) was presented before the Republican People's Party Congress from 15 to 20 October 1927.

Tutelary Democracy

The Free Republican Party (Serbest Cumhuriyet Firkasi) was founded by Fethi Okyar in August 1930, following Mustafa Kemal's request.
The party was closed down in November 1930.
The Menemen Incident occurred in December 1930.
A small town in İzmir, Mustafa Fehmi Kubilay was killed by reactionaries.

One-Party Regime (1931)

A political system declared to be a one-party state in 1931.
RPP Congress in 1931, Six Arrows were incorporated into the programme in 1931.
RPP Congress in 1936, official policy on state-party congruency was declared.
Six Arrows were incorporated into the constitution in 1937.

Secularism

Reforms of the 19th century were intensified in the state, education, and law.
The abolition of the sultanate (1922) and the caliphate (1924) happened.
Islam ceased to be the official religion in 1928.
The Swiss civil code and the Italian penal code were adopted in 1926.
Traditional headgear (fez and turban) were banned in 1925.
Dervish orders (tarikats) were suppressed in November 1925.
Western models of timekeeping (clocks and calendars), numerals, and measures were adopted.
Family names were introduced in 1934.

Nationalism and Language Reform

The Latin alphabet was adopted in 1928.
The use of the new alphabet became compulsory in public communications from January 1929.
The Society for the Study of the Turkish Language (Türk Dili Tetkik Cemiyeti) was founded in 1932.
The Society's aim was to purify Turkish of Persian and Arabic words and grammar.
The Sun-Language Theory (Güneş Dil Teorisi) was launched in 1935, becoming officially accepted in 1936.
The objective of the reforms was to assert Turkish as stemming from a single ancestral language.

Turkish History Thesis

The Society for the Study of Turkish History (Türk Tarihi Tetkik Cemiyeti), later the Turkish History Institute (Türk Tarih Kurumu), was founded in 1931.
The Turkish History Thesis, based on the theory that Turks are descendants of white (Aryan) inhabitants of Central Asia was developed in 1932.
This theory stated that these people were driven to migrate, forming various civilizations.
This theory became the foundation of history teaching in schools and universities.

Economy

The First Economy Congress was held in İzmir in February 1923.
A mixed economic program was formulated, based on private ownership and initiative.
The state played a role in supporting major investments and infrastructural improvements.
Foreign capital investments were encouraged.

State and Economy in the 1930s

The economic crisis beginning in 1929 led the state to develop and run industries.
The Soviet Union supplied funds for Turkey's industrialization programme.
A Soviet delegate visited Turkey in 1932 to aid the development of Turkish industrialization.
The First Five-Year Plan was announced in 1933.
Sümerbank (for industry) and Etibank (for mining) were established in 1933 and 1935 respectively.

Foreign Policy

Foreign policy aimed to preserve and consolidate the status quo established in Lausanne.
The Mosul, Hatay Questions, along with the outstanding Ottoman public debt issue were crucial.
The economic crisis of 1929 led to a restructuring of public debt repayments.
Relations with the Soviet Union were important, with a ten-year friendship treaty signed in 1935.
Turkey enhanced relations with neighboring states through agreements, such as the Balkan Pact (1934) and the Sadabad Pact (1937).

Mosul Question

The issue of Mosul remained unresolved in Lausanne.
Britain insisted on including Mosul the treaty.
Turkey proposed a plebiscite as an alternative.
Negotitions between Turkey and Britain between 1923 and 1924 continued.
The case was brought before the League of Nations (Turkey joined in 1932).
A League of Nations commission determined Mosul to be part of Iraq.
Turkey acquiesced in 1926, accepting compensation for relinquishing its claim.

District of Alexandretta (Hatay)

The Franco-Turkish Treaty of 1921 declared the District of Alexandretta autonomous.
Hatay was attached to the French mandate of Syria in 1925.
In 1936, France announced preparations to transfer Hatay to independent Syria.
In 1937, a League of Nations mission concluded that the population in the region was predominantly Turkish.
Hatay became an independent entity in November 1937.
The Republic of Hatay was proclaimed in September 1938.
Turkish deputies attained a majority in elections in June 1938.
Hatay was integrated into Turkey on 29 June 1939.

Leadership

İsmet İnönü served as prime minister between 1925 and 1937.
İsmet İnönü was replaced by Celal Bayar in 1937, following disagreements with Mustafa Kemal.
Celal Bayar served as prime minister until his resignation in 1939.
İnönü and Bayar held differing opinions on economic policies, involving statism and liberalism.
Following Mustafa Kemal's death in 1938, İsmet İnönü became the national leader (milli şef).

Kadro (Cadre)

Kadro (Cadre), a journal published between 1932 and 1934, aimed to build a cadre for the Kemalist revolutionary vanguard.
The journal was edited by Şevket Süreyya Aydemir, Vedat Nedim Tör, Burhan Asaf Belge, Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, and İsmail Hüsrev Tökin.
The objective was to transform the RPP elite into an elite cadre for the revolution.
It presented Kemalism as an alternative to capitalism and communism.

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Description

Explore the pivotal events and policies in Turkey from 1920 to 1939 in this quiz. Test your knowledge on key figures, treaties, and significant moments such as the formation of the Republic of Hatay and the impact of new civil codes. Ideal for students of Turkish history or anyone interested in this transformative period.