1923
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♦ Republic of Turkey proclaimed on October 29, 1923 as successor state to 600-year-old Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal named President.
♦ Capital moved from Constantinople to Ankara.
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March 1924
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♦ Abdulmecid is deposed and the Islamic caliphate is formally abolished
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Apr 1924
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♦ Turkey adopts a constitution that adopts a one-party rule and bans the Ottoman family
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1926
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♦ Boundary with Iraq settled by League of Nations initiative
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1928
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♦ Turkey becomes secular: clause retaining Islam as state religion
removed from constitution.
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1930
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♦ Constantinople officially becomes Istanbul.
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1936
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♦ Montreux Convention regulates ship transit through the Turkish Straits.
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November 10, 1938
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♦ Mustafa Kemal, better known as Kemal Ataturk father of the Turks, dies succeeded by Ismet Inonu.
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1939
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♦ Franco-Turkish agreement transfers Syrian province of Alexandretta to
Turkey, present - day Hatay Province.
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1945
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♦ Neutral for most of World War II, Turkey declares war on Germany and
Japan, but does not take part in combat. Joins United Nations.
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1947
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♦ Truman Doctrine results in large-scale US military and economic aid.
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1950
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♦ First free elections won by opposition Democratic Party.
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1952
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♦ Turkey abandons Ataturk's neutralist policy and joins NATO
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1954
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♦Military facilities agreement with US allows stationing of American forces.
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1960
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♦ Military coup, civilian government reinstated in 1961.
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1964
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♦ UN forestalls threatened military intervention to protect Turkish Cypriots
on Cyprus.
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1967
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♦ War with Greece over Cyprus is narrowly averted
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1971
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♦ Coup by memorandum replaces government
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1974
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♦ Greece engineers coup on Cyprus.
♦ Turkish forces invade and occupy northern part of island.
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1980-1983
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♦ Political impasse results in military intervention in civilian government and martial law and later a new constitution. Turgut Ozal’s Motherland
Party (ANAP) wins 1983 general election.
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1987
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♦ Turkey applies for European Community membership.
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1988
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♦ Lucrative transit trade to Iran and Iraq shifts from wartime to
reconstruction orientation after Tehran and Baghdad agree on armistice.
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1990-1991
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♦ Economy hard hit when UN-sponsored sanctions against Iraq curtail oil
and commodities transit trade.
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1993-1995
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♦ Tansu Ciller becomes Turkey's first woman prime minister, with
Suleyman Demirel as president. Pro - Islamist Welfare Party wins
elections but can not form a government.
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1998-2000
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♦ Welfare Party banned despite majority in parliament. Bulent Ecevit
takes power with Ahmet Necdet Sezer as president.
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2002-2003
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♦ Islamist Justice & Development Party (AK) wins election, promising to
adhere to secular constitution. Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins seat in
parliament. Abdullah Gul resigns as prime minister and Erdogan takes
over.
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2003-2005
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♦ In efforts to gain European Union (EU) membership, parliament reforms
laws on civil rights, minority rights, penal code reforms, and the role of
the military. EU membership negotiations are launched.
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2007-2008
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♦ The AK Party wins and candidate Abdullah Gul becomes president
♦ Parliament approves constitutional amendments rescinding head scarf
ban in universities.
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2011
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♦ The Justice and Development Party (AKP) wins re-election, and Prime
Minister Erdogan begins a third term.
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2014
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♦ Prime Minister Erdogan wins the first direct popular election for
president.
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November 2015
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♦ Governing AKP party regains parliamentary majority in snap elections
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