The Tanzimat Reforms

Background
Following the revolts of the Greeks and Serbs in the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mahmud II saw
how weak the once-glorious Empire was; there were obvious signs of decline, even since the
Siege of Vienna. Like many great empires in history, such as the Holy Roman Empire, the
Ottoman Empire was in a period of extreme decline and fragmentation. This was evident to
Mahmud II and his successors; therefore, a viable option that they saw was to reform the
Empire to return it to its glory/prevent its collapse.
(1839-1876)
Social Aspects
Educational Reforms
Education was a big part of the Tanzimat era. Rather than just
focusing on education to better the military, education during the Tanzimat period
dealt with Ottoman citizenship.
In 1859, the Civilian Service School was set up.
In 1868, the Ottoman Lycee was set up. (Imperial school, French
style education).
French education was very influential for the Tanzimat.
This led to a new political/social elite of the Ottoman Empire.
Teacher schools and
Ottoman citizenship/nationality
subjects citizens
Nationality Law of 1869 Ottoman affiliation becomes
citizenship, creates a sense of Ottoman national identity in order to
prevent nationalist revolts.
Aimed for asabiya (social solidarity)
Slavery abolished
Homosexuality legalized
The role of women decreased
Ulema had a smaller role.
Political Aspects
Legal Reforms
A new code of laws was put into place that combined Shariah law
with aspects of the Napoleonic Code.
This was called the Mejelle.
Secular Court System
Nizame courts were set up.
Young Ottomans
Advocates for Ottoman democracy rather than absolutist
monarchy.
Aimed to combine traditional Islam with modern methods.
Failures.
Ottoman Constitution of 1876 = The Fundamental Law of the Sultanate
Limited the power of the Sultan.

The pressure to keep up with Europe through commercial laws.

Support from local elites.
Administration
Wilayat Law (1864) administrative councils elected.
There was a council of nobles which were appointed, as well as a
council of delegates which were elected.
1858 Ottoman Land Code
Meclis-i Maarif-i Umumiye
1841
Ottoman parliament prototype.
Many ministries were created with the bureaucratization of the Ottoman Empire.

Economic Aspects
Paper banknotes introduced in 1840.
Land Code in 1858 led to increased revenue for the Ottomans.
Hatt-i Sharif of Gulhane
Abolishment of tax farming
Religious and Cultural Aspects
Breakdown of traditional Islam-dominated society.
Hatt-i Humayun 1856
Full equality of all religions in the Empire
Allowed non-Muslims to attempt to be exempt from the jizya tax
Hatt-i Sharif of Gulhane
Abolished millet system
Other Aspects
Janissaries abolished to keep up with Western style militaries.
Hatt-i Sharif of Gulhane
Standardized military conscription
Significance to Ottoman History
Like the French Revolution, most of the Tanzimat reforms were reversed by the next leader in
power, Sultan Abdulhamid II. However, the Tanzimat reforms showed an attempt at modernizing
the Ottoman Empire, which serves as a precursor to later reform movements, such as the
Young Turks and Ataturks reforms in the Republic of Turkey.
Historiography
William L. Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East dualism
between traditional and modern in Ottoman society = negative effect

Young Turks
Background
Abdulhamid II becomes sultan in 1876 (thanks to Midhat Pasha), and basically reverses most of
the Tanzimat reforms. However, the children of the Tanzimat, the newly educated social and

political elite known as the Young Turks, are very dissatisfied with Hamid. Therefore, they carry
out a coup detat in 1908, ushering in new reforms.
Social Aspects
Turkish nationalism
Ottomanism = failure Turkish nationalism and PanTurkism
Led to strong basis for republic of Turkey
Lack of governmental and civil support
Armenian Genocide
Preventing nationalist revolt at the expense of millions of lives
Enlightenment ideals on agenda
Secularized society
Science religion
New secular laws
New political rights/freedoms
Suppression of peasants
Improved position of women
Universal suffrage
Education even primary education
Free education
Alienation of ulema
Anti-shariah law
Political Aspects
Enver Pasha OME to ally with the Central Powers (Turko-German
Alliance 1914)
Led to Ottoman defeat in WWI collapse
Preventable?
Reinstated Ottoman constitution
Deposed of Abdulhamid II and made the sultanate essentially powerless
End of absolute monarchy new era in Ottoman
government
Fully? totalitarian CUP
Larger bureaucracy/centralization of OME government
Electoral machine of OME in the hands of CUP
Poor foreign policy loss of territory
Balkan Wars
Economic Aspects
Tax reforms harsh on peasants
Alongside centralization came increased taxes
Strike Law of 1910
Negative for the working class
Made it difficult to organize strikes by outlawing labor unions
Promotion of industrialization
Law for the Encouragement of Industry 1909
State-directed economy
Needed money for reform

New monopolies
New methods of tax-collecting to increase revenue

Religious and Cultural Aspects

Secular society
Significance to Ottoman History
The Committee of Union and Progress was the last strong ruling body in the Ottoman Empire
before it dissolved and became the Republic of Turkey. It is arguable if the Young Turk
revolution influenced the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire; however, it is imperative to discern
that the developments of the CUP were influential in providing a basis for modern Turkey.
Historiography
Edward Frederick Knight, The Awakening of Turkey: A History of the
Turkish Revolution CUP needed $$$ to reform, yet constitution prevented
increase of direct taxation on OME citizens