Who is Known as the Father of Modern Turkey?

There are people through the ages who have changed their countries in ways that will affect generations to come. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, a visionary leader appeared in a country converting from an old empire to a new Republic.

He is remembered for the revolutionary changes he made in every part of his society, including law, education, language and the rights of women. 

His impact has extended beyond politics and created a national identity and pride within the people. Understanding the life of this leader, the accomplishments he achieved and the obstacles he faced will give a person an understanding of how one person can change a whole country and lay the groundwork for their future.

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Who is Known as the Father of Modern Turkey?

Source: Thought Co

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was called the "Father of Modern Turkey," along with other titles. The title "Father of Modern Turkey" was given to Atatürk, a person in Turkey who led Turkey into modernization, secularism, and progress that began in the early 20th century. 

Born in 1881 in Salonica (Thessaloniki today, in Greece), Atatürk captured the attention of the world as a military leader who participated in World War I as a military leader and commander of troops and was also instrumental in leading the Turkish War of Independence with the Turkish National Movement.

After leading the successful Turkish National Movement against foreign occupation, Atatürk helped establish the Republic of Turkey as a new country on October 29, 1923 to replace the centuries-old Ottoman Empire. 

Atatürk established sweeping reforms that were meant to modernize Turkish society. For example, he secularized the new country he had founded. He created a new legal system for the Turkish Nation, which included a new alphabet based on the Latin Alphabet.

He promoted education and women's rights in a country where women did not have the right to vote or to obtain a liberal education.

Why is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Called the Father of Modern Turkey?

The specific types of reforms that Atatürk applied to create modern-day Turkey include:

Political Reform: Established a Republic in place of the Monarchy (the last monarch was sentenced to death), as well as created Democratic Institutions like political parties, parliament.

Social Reform: Promoting Education like public schools created and gender and women's rights.

Cultural Reform: Adopted the Latin alphabet, modernized language and encouraged scientific thinking.

Secularization: Secularization of Church State and Separation of Church and State Laws.

The results of Ataturk's reforms represented the modernization of Turkey, therefore giving Ataturk the title of "Father of Modern Turkey" in recognition of his contributions to founding a modern nation state.

Conclusion

To conclude, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is known as the modern father of turkey for being instrumental in founding the turkish republic, as well as introducing many reforms which transformed turkey into an advanced country.