The Ottoman Empire

In fact, the Empire was typeface to the capitulatory system, whereby the European powers enjoyed special privileges within the conglomerate, including the right to veto some(prenominal) changes in the external tariff rates of the Empire. When the Sublime Porte (the whiff government) defaulted on a prevalent debt of more than a cardinal dollars in 1875, the Sultan was forced to place administration of the public debt in European hands.

Ironically, the profound government accepted these eatable in return for economic and military assistance. Although the government desire to balance the interests of the European powers, certain powers were favored while others were disfavored. Germany, below Bismarck, initially showed little interest in currying favor with the " sickish man of Europe," as the fag Empire was referred to, preferring instead to constitute its power in Europe proper. After the dismissal of Bismarck, however, Kaiser Wilhelm II began looking eastward, in pursuit of Germany's "destiny." Thus, a new insurance began of establishing Asiatic Turkey as a major plain of German influence in strategic and economic field; the Kaiser particularly wished to link Germany with the Persian Gulf, via the proposed Baghdad railway. This plan was accredited enthusiastically by the Sultan, who wished to begin centralizing control of the empire through the construction of railroads.

The plans for the Baghdad Railway were

Price, M. Philips. A History of Turkey: From Empire to Republic. capital of the United Kingdom: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1956.

The secret alliance officially put Turkey on the side of the Triple Alliance. This did not mean, however, that Turkey became involved in the war immediately upon opening of hostilities. In response to Russia's world-wide mobilization on July 31, Germany had declared war on Russia on overbearing 1, the day before the alliance was signed. France entered the war on August 3 and Germany invaded Belgium (in an offensive directed against the French) on August 4; in response, Britain declared war on Germany on the same day.

Turkey, however, did not enter the war, even though it had assure to do so if Russia entered the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, an event which had already occurred by the time the agreement was signed. It must be remembered that moreover a few of the ministers in the Porte were aware(predicate) that a agreement with Germany had been agreed to. Those who were aware argued that intervention should not occur until the legions was fully mobilized, an argument which Germany accepted. Although few in Turkey were aware of the alliance, the events of the following days turned public opinion in Turkey against the Entente and in favor of Germany.

By the theme of the Twentieth Century, the only European territory which remained under fairy control was Macedonia, and this area was a mess. Outnumbered by Christian European residents, the Turkish army in charge of keeping enounce in the region had its hands full, as rebellious factions began predatory each others' towns. This anarchy drove the Christians into neighboring Bulgaria and Serbia, who had left the Ottoman Empire during the previous century. Realizing the plight of their country, several officers in the Turkish army in Macedonia began plotting to overthrow the Sultan and establish a "new" Turkey, governed more effectively by a stronger central government based upon western European ideas of "democ
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