One of the most important steps in the difficult process that started with the occupation, continued with the War of Independence and finally resulted in the declaration of the republic was taken at the Sivas Congress. Because with the Sivas Congress, the Turkish nation clearly announced to the whole world that it did not accept any mandate or protection and only wanted independence.
Unfortunately, the world domination of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted for centuries, first wavered and eventually ended with the First World War. With the Armistice of Mudros, our lands began to be actually occupied. Of course, the Turkish Nation resisted this and local uprisings began. However, these local uprisings did not turn into a national struggle until the Sivas Congress was held.
That’s why the Sivas Congress is important, because the Turkish nation, which was disturbed by the invaders until that day but could not come to a common ground, made a common decision; Buffaloes were not wanted. gathered under the chairmanship of Mustafa Kemal Pasha As a result of the decisions taken by the Sivas Congress The path to the establishment of the parliament was opened and, more importantly, the first sparks of the nation that would fight together against the invaders shone.
The Turkish nation was resisting, but it was not organized:
The First World War was fought, the Ottomans lost, and the date of 30 October 1918 With the Armistice of Mudros, the existence of the state was effectively ended. Thereupon, Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to Samsun and took the first step towards the national struggle. Because he wanted a national unity, not a local one, he first convened the Erzurum Congress between 23 July and 7 August 1919, but it was not enough.
Of course, important decisions were taken at the Erzurum Congress, but these were national decisions taken locally. Mustafa Kemal Pasha knew that such decisions could not be implemented. For this reason, he decided to hold another congress where representatives from all provinces in Anatolia came. The Representative Committee, which served as a kind of government, had already gathered in Erzurum, and this needed to be expanded.
A national call was made with the Amasya Circular:
Because Mustafa Kemal Pasha knew that the Erzurum Congress should be expanded even before the congress was held. On the evenings of 21 – 22 June, he had his aide Cevat Abbat Bey write a declaration. This text, which is today called the Amasya Circular, is a kind of declaration of revolution.
National sovereignty is mentioned for the first time in the Amasya Circular. In this document signed by Mustafa Kemal Pasha as the 9th Army Inspector, In short, it was said that the country was lost and that a national congress would be held as soon as possible in Sivas, which was the safest province at that time. It has been announced that three representatives from each province who have gained the trust of the public will attend the congress to be held in Sivas.
All representatives set out for Sivas, disregarding their lives:
It was not easy for a group of patriots who were seen as traitors in the lands of a de facto occupied country to set out and come to Sivas. There were even French soldiers in Sivas at that time. On the one hand, invader-supporting governors were giving intelligence to the British and trying to prevent the delegates from attending the congress.
Sivas governor Reşit Pasha, who made the preparations, He even told Mustafa Kemal Pasha several times to move the congress to another place, but the decision did not change. Hearing that there were delegates coming to Sivas, Mustafa Kemal Pasha set out from Erzurum on 29 August and arrived in Sivas on 2 September. He realized that he had made the right decision when a large crowd welcomed his car with joy.
Finally, the Sivas Congress convened:
Sivas Congress was held in the Sivas Sultani building on September 4, 1919, after great difficulties. The number of delegates attending the congress is described in different sources such as 28, 35, 48. The reason for this is that delegates did not come from every province and not every delegate could attend the congress on the same day. For this reason, Mustafa Kemal Pasha even appointed some of his followers as provincial delegates.
There were eight meetings at the Sivas Congress held between 4 September and 11 September 1919. Of course Mustafa Kemal Pasha opened the congress and was unanimously elected president of the congress. Each delegate attending the congress took an oath that they would serve the nation, state, religion and not engage in politics here.
Detailed discussions were held on each topic at the congress:
The Sivas Congress clearly announced that it would make decisions on behalf of the Turkish nation. The decisions taken at the Erzurum Congress were discussed again here. because they wanted to make a national decision. There were long discussions especially on the mandate issue. İsmail Hami Bey even made a proposal that the American mandate should be accepted. Of course it was rejected.
Ali Fuat Pasha was appointed as the Commander of the National Forces The Representative Committee was also reconstituted. The reason why so much importance was given to the Representative Committee was that this committee would take over in the event of the official dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Anatolia and Rumelia Defense of Law Society was established at the Sivas Congress. It was also decided here to publish the İrade-i Milliye newspaper.
Decisions taken as a result of the Sivas Congress:
- At the time when the Armistice of Mudros was signed, the separation and division of the predominantly Muslim lands was out of the question.
- It is essential to make the National Forces the force and the national will dominant, because only in this way is it possible to ensure the Ottoman Empire and national independence.
- Greek and Armenian states to be established in our lands will be opposed, taking the National Struggle structures on the Aydın, Manisa and Balıkesir fronts as an example.
- The rights of all non-Muslims living in our lands will be protected, but rights that will disrupt the social and political balance will not be granted.
- All necessary measures were taken to protect the caliphate and sultanate in case the Ottoman government left the country.
- We expect any initiative on Muslim-majority lands to be abandoned at the time when the Armistice of Mudros was signed.
- We are open to any foreign aid that does not oppose our independence and does not harbor invasion intentions.
- Our government will be governed by national will, not by personal decisions.
- All national movements were united under the name of Anatolia and Rumelia Defense of Rights Society.
- The Representative Committee was elected to manage the Anatolian and Rumelia Defense of Law Society.
Why is the Sivas Congress so important?
With the Sivas Congress, the national struggle officially began. It was announced to the whole world that all kinds of mandates were rejected and the only solution was national independence. The Representative Committee, which would later turn into the National Assembly, was formed here. Moreover, the first step of the republic that would be established years later was actually taken here.
The meeting that officially started the Turkish national struggle When was the Sivas Congress held, what were its results, what decisions were taken, what is its importance? We answered frequently asked questions such as: As you can see, ‘The nation’s independence will be saved by the nation’s determination and decision.’