Young Turks

Definition

The Young Turks were a political reform movement in the early 20th century that consisted of Ottoman exiles, students, civil servants, and army officers. They favored the replacement of the Ottoman Empire's absolute monarchy with a constitutional government.

Related terms

Ottoman Empire: A state that lasted from 1299 to 1922. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in northwestern Anatolia by Osman I.

Constitutional Government: A form of government where powers are distributed among different branches (executive, legislative, judicial) and each branch has separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility.

Absolute Monarchy: A form of government where one person has unrestricted political power over their sovereign state and its people.