Mustaf Kemal (Ataturk) and the Modernization of Turkey

Mustaf Kemal was the first Turkish president after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. He was able to modernize Turkey in the 15 years he served as president through 6 beliefs. Mustaf believed in Republicanism, Populism, Secularism, Reformism, Nationalism, and Statism. Mustaf Kemal deep belief in Secularism meant that State and Religion were divided. He also divided Religion from other affairs like the legal system and Education. One of Mustafs sayings was "Peace at Home, Peace in the World" Turkey was able to stay out of conflicts during Mustaf and his presidency.

Mustaf made many reforms including a Language reform. In five months Mustaf was able to change the old Arabic Script to the Latin alphabet. This is something that could have easily taken 5 years or more. Mustaf also launched reforms for Womens Rights. He gave them the same opportunities as Men had including political rights.

Mustaf not only led a political reform as president but a full Cultural Revolution in Turkey. He was able to modernize and make Turkey secular in only 15 years.

Film Lesson "Ghandi"

Mahatma Gandhi was a main figure in India's history as he helped shape the future of the country. Gandhi fought for the independence of India from British rule through a series of civil disobedience campaigns. Ghandi advocated a nonviolence which was called Ahimsa. In 1930 he led a march to the sea, where they evaporated the water to produce salt as a protest to the british salt tax. Ghandi had a vast amount of power in india. Many times he fasted as a form of protest as a revolution could easily break out if he died.

Ghandi had a philosophy of non-violence which he followed strictly. He used it very well and easily to his advantage. Ghandi hoped that Britain would also find violence useless and would leave India. He used fasting many times since the British could not let him die.

Even if Ghandi hadn't taken up this cause India would probably be free from british rule today it may have just taken longerand possibly more violent.

Ghandi was assasinated on January 30, 1948 in New Delhi by a Hindu fanatic who disliked Gandhi's idea that Muslims and Hindus were equal.