Atatürk was a military genius, a charismatic leader and also a comprehensive reformer. It was important at the time for the Republic of Turkey to be modernised in order to progress towards the level of contemporary civilizations and to be an active member of the culturally developed world. Mustafa Kemal modernised the life of his country, introducing reforms that he considered of vital importance for the salvation and survival of his people between 1924 and 1938. These reforms were enthusiastically welcomed by the Turkish people. 

 

The Reform of the Alphabet

 

One of the most important of Atatürk's reforms  was the abolition of the use of the Arabic alphabet and the adoption of the Latin alphabet. The new Turkish alphabet was adopted on 3 November 1928. 

 

The Clothing Reform

 

With the clothing reform, women stopped wearing veils and began to wear modern women's clothing. Men started to wear hats rather than the fez.

 

The Secularisation of the Legal System

 

The new Turkish State, founded in 1920, required a new legal system. Atatürk adopted the Swiss Civil Code as a substitute for Canonical Law (Şeriat Kanunu) and instead of the penal code that was then in force, introduced the Italian Penal Code of that time. The Turkish Legal System was modernised in accordance with contemporary requirements.

 

The Secularisation of Education

 

Until the beginning of the 19th century, several educational systems were used in the Ottoman Empire. Atatürk observed that the systems used in Muslim seminary school did not meet the needs of the new society. It was essential to establish a new educational system similar to western models and the existing system was therefore changed. In 1933 a university reform was also introduced.

 

Civil Rights for Women

 

With the reforms of Atatürk, Turkish women, who for centuries had been neglected, were given new rights. With the new civil code, Turkish women would now have the same rights as men, could be appointed to official posts and had the right to vote and to be elected to Parliament. The monogamy principle and equal rights for women changed the spirit of Turkish society.

 

Atatürk's Works on Turkish History

 

Following the reform of the script, which was intended to be a kind of nationalism in the cultural field, Atatürk concentrated his attention on history, establishing the Turkish Historical Society in 1931. Here, Turkey's history was thoroughly examined and evaluated. Many reforms took place including the Weekend Act of 1924, the International Time and Calendar System of 1925,  the Obligation Law and Commercial Law of 1926, the System of Measures (1933) and the Surname Act of 1934. According to the law passed by the Grand National Assembly in 1932 Turks took surnames and the Nation's leader was given the surname Atatürk, "Father of the Turks".