Atatürk's Revolutions – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering major legal, economic, and health reforms discussed in the lecture on Atatürk’s Revolutions.

Atatürk’s Revolutions

Comprehensive political, legal, economic, and social reforms led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to modernize the Republic of Turkey.

Secularism

Principle separating religious influence from state affairs; applied to Turkish law to base legislation on reason and science.

Civil Code (1926)

Swiss-inspired law regulating personal status, family, inheritance, and property, introducing gender equality and mandatory civil marriage.

Penal Code (1926)

Italian-based criminal law that created equal penalties for all citizens regardless of religion.

Judges Act

Reform guaranteeing judicial independence, shielding judges from external pressure in appointments and decisions.

Commercial Code (1926)

Set of laws governing commercial transactions, maritime trade, and company operations in Turkey.

Law of Obligations (1928)

Statute regulating contracts and liabilities to resolve debt disputes and protect commercial ethics.

Execution and Bankruptcy Law (1929)

Swiss-modeled legislation defining procedures for debt collection and insolvency.

Gender Equality

Legal concept established by the Civil Code granting women equal rights in testimony, inheritance, divorce, and profession choice.

Monogamy Principle

Rule introduced by the Civil Code making one-spouse marriage legally obligatory.

Official Marriage

Requirement that all marriages be registered with civil authorities rather than religious institutions.

Women’s Political Rights

Reforms granting women municipal suffrage in 1930 and full voting and candidacy rights in 1934.

İzmir Economic Congress (1923)

Pre-Republic meeting setting goals for national economic development and independence.

National Economy Goals

Initiatives to foster investment, establish a national bank, build railways, and promote domestic goods.

Cabotage Law (1926)

Legislation reserving trade and transport in Turkish territorial waters to Turkish ships and sailors.

Industrial Encouragement Law (1927)

Act providing incentives to attract private sector investment into industry.

İş Bank

First national commercial bank of the Republic, founded to finance economic growth.

Abolition of Aşar Tax (1925)

Removal of the tithe tax on farmers, relieving the rural population of a heavy fiscal burden.

Ziraat Bank

State bank expanded to supply affordable agricultural loans to farmers.

First Five-Year Development Plan (1933)

State-directed program focused on industrialization under the policy of statism.

Statism

Economic policy whereby the state leads and owns key industries due to weak private capital.

Ministry of Health (1920)

Government body created to organize national healthcare services in the new Republic.

Public Hygiene Law (1930)

Legislation launching nationwide campaigns against infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Child Protection Agency (1921)

Institution established to safeguard children’s health and welfare.

Modern Hospitals (1924)

Series of contemporary medical facilities opened in major Turkish cities to improve healthcare access.

Treaty of Lausanne (1923) – Economic Impact

Agreement abolishing capitulations and restoring Turkish control over its economy.

Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MTA)

Organization founded to survey and exploit Turkey’s underground resources.

Atatürk Forest Farm

Model agricultural enterprise demonstrating modern farming techniques to Turkish peasants.

Tanzimat Fermanı & Mecelle

Ottoman legal reforms that were semi-theocratic and replaced by secular codes under Atatürk.