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This marks the transition from the Ottoman Empire to one of the countries that resulted: modern-day Turkey. While todays Turkey was officially founded in 1923, the year 1909 officially ended the reign that made Turkey part of the Ottoman Empire.
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What came to be known as the Armenian Genocide occured during WWI, over a period of about eight years starting in 1915. Turkey today says that this was a part of the war, but it is regarded as genocide as it was the deaths of civilians. This added to the already rocky relationship between the two countries which continues today.
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"Ataturk" (Mustafa Kemal) was a military officer during WWI and led the movement to gain Turkey's Independence after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. In 1923, the modern Republic of Turkey was founded and Mustafa Kemal was elected. He was named "Ataturk" or "fathe rof the turks". His rule brpought a series of changes and reforms to the newfound country of Turkey.
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Kemal Ataturk was given this title of "father of the Turks" and so the country had a great connection with him and he was considered a national hero. After him came a period of one-party rule until the election of 1950.
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Turkey maintains neutrality for most of the war but later declares war on Japan and Germany, allying with the United States. Although they took a side in the war, Turkey did not actually participate in the fighting.
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The election of 1950 marked a point of a power transition that was peaceful, which in itself is fairly unusual especially when taking into account that power was involved. What was a one party rule was after the elections, the Democratic Party.
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Ataturk wanted neutralist policy, but this was abandoned when Tuekey joined NATO in 1952, still trying to get ever closer to a more European association.
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Army coup goes against the Democratic Party of Turkey (at this time, this is the ruling party as of the 1950 elections)
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New Constitution creates a two chamber parliament.
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New and additional association with Europe. (EEC = European Economic Community)
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Becomes associate member status of EU. Because Turkey is trying/has been trying to be seen more as a country connected with Europe, rather than the Middle East (as it has been previously). So in regards to this goal, this was a major accomplishment.
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Turkish invasion of island of Cyprus (under British control) in which lived mainly Greeks and Turks. Today, the "Green Line" separates the opposing groups within the island.
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(PKK = Kurdistan Workers Party)History of Kurdish people being oppressed within Turkey and attacked outside of TUrkey made the Kurds generally bitter towards the Turkish population. The PKK connflicts have killed thousands of people and are considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, the U.S. and the E.U. IN an attempt to lessen the conflict/mollify them, the Turkish government has increased freedoms to the Kurds, but (political etc.) discrimination against them still continues.
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Motherland Party (ANAP) wins. (shift of power/ruling political party)
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1991-93
Suleyman Demirel elected Prime Minister, inflation at 70% -
The European Court of Human Rights finds Turkey guilty of violating the rights of Greeks in Cyprus during Turkeys occupation of the island.
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The law that Turkish men are the heads of their families is eliminated. Milestone: women are legally equal to men in Turkey.
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Always having been a point of discussion and dispute, protests flare in February of 2008 to allow women to wear headscarfs to university for religious reasons. This results in constitutional amendments which allow for this. Issue arises again during the rule of president Abdullah Gul, whose wife wears a headscarf.
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(importance = HUGE). In September 2008, Turkish president Abdullah Gul becomes the first Turkish president to visit Armenia. This is a huge deal and a milestone in Turkish-Armenian relations because of the bitterness between the two (Armenian Genocide). Relations progressively get better after this.
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In France, a bill is passed that states it to be a criminal offense to deny that the Armenian Genocide (mass killings of Armenians by The Ottoman Empire/Turkey) took place. This bill is later taken down on accounts of interfering with freedom of expression. However, the bill shook up relations between France and Turkey.
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He is to maintain this position seven times. (A big difference between Turkish and U.S. government is the limitation for our presidents term of office)
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(The killing of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink happened 2007). Verdict sparks protests of people questioning.
