Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
History Studies, cilt.11, sa.2, ss.801-814, 2019 (Hakemli Dergi)
With the Ottoman Empire being defeated in the First World War and the consequent start ofthe occupation of the country, the actual structure of the state began to decline. Especially theoccupation of the city of Izmir had a very intense impact on society. Mustafa Kemal Pasha landing atSamsun in response to these occupations and the gathering of helpful communities within the countryand Kuva-yi Milliye1under a single roof were the steps that organized the campaign of independence.Afterward, the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses were held in which the indivisibility of the country washeavily emphasized. As a result of the occupation of Istanbul by the British, Mustafa Kemal Pashareported that a constituent assembly should be created in Ankara. In addition, with a circular letterissued by the Committee of Representation, an assembly was being desired to be created which couldsave the integrity of the country with civil cooperation. Upon this desire, a constituent assemblyequipped with exceptional powers was decided to be founded in Ankara.A committee, composed of pre-elected müntehib-i sanis2, administration and municipal councilmembers, and the members of Defense of National Rights, would participate in the elections to beheld for the institution of the assembly. The elections, intended to be completed within fifteen days atthe latest, would be performed based on secret ballot, open counting, and absolute majority and theelected members of parliament would be made sure to reach Ankara as soon as possible. Eventually,the election was finalized under these circumstances and the assembly was inaugurated on April 23rd,1920.Having provided support for Anatolia during the years of the Turkish War of Independence, the cityof Kayseri was effectively endorsing the National Campaign. In the city where the public supportedthe Committee of Representation, the elections had been finalized on March 23rd, 1920 and theelected members of parliament started their journey to Ankara immediately. Âlim Efendi3, RemziEfendi, Osman Bey4, and Atıf Bey were elected as representatives of Kayseri. In addition to theserepresentatives, Ahmet Hilmi Bey and Ahmet Rıfat Bey, who had acted as representatives of Kayseriin the last Ottoman Chamber of Deputies which was eventually dissolved, were directly included inthe new assembly as representatives of Kayseri. Having supported the campaign of independence as acity in the Sivas Congress in the same way, Kayseri maintained this support in the elections and sentits representatives to the new assembly. The aforementioned representatives included in the assemblyengaged in important activities in this assembly performing its constituent function.