What is Union and Progress and why was it established?

The Committee of Union and Progress, which initiated the proclamation of the second constitutional monarchy in the Ottoman Empire, and was active in the period between 1908-1918, is a political party founded on May 21, 1889. This community continued its existence in a parliamentary structure governed by the Triumvir regime and the second sultan. It aimed to end Abdul Hamid’s rule. We told you everything you need to know about the Union and Progress Committee.

You may also want to look at this content: “Purposes, Supporters, and Activities: Communities Harmful to National Existence in All Sides”

What is union and progression?

The Committee of Union and Progress was founded by young patriots who wanted to re-enact the law of Al-Isa to get rid of the depression in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the nineteenth century, as a secret organization called Al-Ittihad-I Osmanî Cemiyeti in the Military Medical College on May 21, 1889. It was established. This society initiated the proclamation of the second constitutional monarchy. However, after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the community became history in 1918.

Why was the Union and Promotion Committee established?

The ideas of justice, equality and freedom that wanted to instill in all of humanity with the French Revolution influenced the Ottoman Empire. Thinkers, who saw that the state was about to disappear, wanted these ideas to be adopted by the people and organized just like in Europe. The youth, who saw that the civilized world is advancing towards prosperity and freedom through development in every field, established the society called “Ottoman Union” to provide constitutionalism and be its protector. This community, which will be called Union and Progress in the future, aims to show the public the right way. However, it was not successful when it was first created.

The countries that left the Ottoman Empire were modernizing in every field, especially their armies, with the support of foreign countries. In the face of this development, the Turkish nation was oppressed and was retreating further. The Turkish nation, oppressed by financial and economic chains such as the Concessions and Duyun-ı Umumiye, could not develop and keep up with the pace of Europe. In the face of this threat of extinction, the patriots’ sense of freedom emerged as a powerful ideal. However, it tied people together, which put them in danger of extinction.

The primary purpose of the Committee of Union and Progress is to prove that the real owners of the country are the nation.

What are the goals of the community?

Some articles explaining the purpose of the Committee of Union and Progress were first published in 1895. Shri Amit explained the program of the organization, which began to be published in Egypt in 1902, as follows:

To protect the territorial integrity and political independence of the Ottoman Empire from foreign interference.
To guarantee the constitutional monarchy, overthrow tyranny, and apply the provisions of the legal principles of 1876.
To ensure that all the Ottomans together because happiness and salvation in the Ottoman Empire.
To inform people in government of the progress and needs of the period and to invite them to take action.
To spread the idea of reform among the sects of the Ottoman Empire.
To prove to foreign countries that the Ottoman Empire possessed the skills of developed countries.
Developing and strengthening the caliphate and the Ottoman dynasty for the benefit of the state.

Founders Union and Progress

The association was founded in secret and has evolved over time. Here are the first community founders:

Muhammad Rust Caucasian
Abdullah Jawdat from Arabkir
Ibrahim Ethem Timo from Ohrid
Hosseinzadeh Ali
Isaac Scotty from Diyarbakir

Among the first to join the association were people such as Suleiman Amin, Assaf Darwish, Nasi Pasha, and Ismail Safa Bey. It was the Second World War that brought together the young students who founded or became members of the Society. The discontent he felt was against Abdel Hamid’s administration and the depression the country was going through. These young people believed that Abdel Hamid’s administration must be overthrown and constitutionalism must be established for the sake of salvation. That is why they got together and organized a propaganda work on this issue.

Who are the members of the Union and Promotion Committee?

Yunus Club Abalyoglu
Abdullah Jawdat
Abdulkadir Bey (Governor of Ankara)
Abdul Qadir Kamali Öğütçü
Abdul Karim Pasha
Adnan Edvar
Ahmet Agaoglu (politician)
Answers Babikian
Ahmed Reda
Ahmed Lotfallah
Ahmed Nasimi, treasurer
Ahmed Sugar Binder
Ahmet Sukru Oguz
Ali Fuad Sibisoy
Ali Munif Yagnaga
Artin Bosegzinian
Asim Mordaroglu
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Atef Camsell
Aziz Ali (Egyptian)
Fathi Okyar
Raouf Orbay
Kazem Ozalp
Bahaa Tawfiq
Celal Bayar
Bekir Sami Kondouh
Refet Bele
Mithat Socro Bleda
Cami Baycourt
Mr. Cavid
Jamal Azmy
Ali Cetinkaya
Givat Abbas Gurr
Vivzi Kakmak
Rashid Al-Sharkasi
Kurukulu Mahmud Pasha
Anwar Pasha
Muhammad Akif Ersoy
Esref Sencer Kuscubasi
Eyup Sabri Akgul
Kara Kamal
Mustafa Wasif security center
Emmanuel Carasso
November
Sukru Kaya
Kazem Karabekir
Kiliczade is right
Norrie Killigel
Ibrahim Colak (soldier)
Ibrahim Kazem
Ibrahim Timo
Ismet Inonu
Isaac Skoty
Ismail Kanbulat
Ismail Hakki Kilicoglu
Jamal Pasha
Mumtaz Haji Adel Arda from Izmit
Haji Bekir Sumer
Haji Muhammad Nuri Effendi
Hafez Hakki Pasha
Hafez Ibrahim Effendi
Hafiz Muhammad
Khalil Ibrahim Nakipoglu
Khalil Al-Kout
Hilal Al-Mufari
Hamdi Aksoy
Protect Hasnu Kayakan
I protected Kabanji
Hassan Fahmy Tomerkan
Good improvement motif
Hashem Sanfar
Hikmat Amin
Hussein Awni Aktologa
Hussein Awni Zimler
Hussein Jahid Yalgin

Union and Progress Committee and Atatürk

Many people believe that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was one of the founders of this society. However, Atatürk joined the association after the founding members. However, since joining the Society for the first time, he has criticized and rejected the society’s domestic and foreign policy. When members of the community did not heed Atatürk’s warnings, Atatürk formed an opposition wing with Ali Fathi (Okyar). He also fought the efforts of members of the Union and Progress to obtain leadership of the national struggle after they traveled abroad.

Moffit Özdaş and Mustafa Kemal joined the Revolution Committee called “Vatan” in 1905. At first, Lutfi Bey directed the administration of the society, Mustafa Kemal Pasha in education and organization, and Dr. Mustafa took charge. The secret organization was transformed into a “home in the freedom of Jemiti” and branches were opened in a short time.

His friends, who swore to him and opened a branch of Thessaloniki, later joined the Committee of Union and Progress. Later, on October 29, 1907, at the invitation of Ali Fatehi, Atatürk joined the Union and Progress Committee with membership number 322.