Question

Describe the significance of the Tanzimat reforms, the constitutional movement, and the revolution of 1908-9 to late Ottoman history and the reactions to these historical developments.

Answer 1

The Tanzimat Reforms was the second attempt in the nineteenth century to modernize the government, military, trade, law and society in the Ottoman Empire. The overall goal of these reforms was to have the country catch up with the development reached by European countries in the last couple of centuries. However, the ulema, or religious establishment of the Ottoman Empire objected top these reforms on the basis of their 'infidel' origin.

Even though the Tanzimat reforms were welcomed by the Ottoman society, further political changes were required, such as the the issuing of a constitution and the creation of a parliament to share the political power with the monarchy. The sultan felt the reforms were going too fast and too far, while different groups within the Ottoman society, such as the Young Turks, felt that more was needed and quickly.

As more and more politicians opposing the monarchy became members of the parliament, constituting an effective political opposition counterbalancing the sultan's authority, the sultan ordered its suspension in 1908 leading to the Young Turk Revolution. The next year, the parliament was restored and the basis for the abolition of the monarchy was laid down as local government administrations, which had effectively rejected reforms to a great extent, were mostly replaced by reformist administrations.