Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ), November, 11, 1930:
President Atatürk’s reception of US Ambassador Joseph C Grew
The 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence provides a unique vantage point to re- examine the ideological foundations of the Republic of Türkiye. While separated by 147 years, the American and Turkish revolutionary movements share a profound structural and philosophical DNA: the transformation of imperial subjects into sovereign citizens. This talk explores the parallels between the rejection of monarchical authority in 1776 and the Turkish National Struggle’s defiance of both the Ottoman authority and European intervention. By analyzing early Republican documents alongside the American founding texts, we find a shared commitment to the principle that “sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation,” a concept that echoes the Enlightenment ideals first institutionalized in Philadelphia and later adapted to the Anatolian context in 1923.
Furthermore, this presentation highlights the specific admiration Turkish officials and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk held for the American model during the early years of the Republic. Beyond mere coincidence, the leadership of Türkiye frequently referenced George Washington and the American struggle as a source of legitimacy and inspiration for their own secular, republican project. Through an examination of diplomatic correspondence, early 1920s Turkish media, and Atatürk’s own 1930 address to the American people, we can see how the Republic of Türkiye viewed itself as a successor to the global spirit of liberty. This comparative study not only honors the American Semiquincentennial but also reinforces the historical bond between two nations born fromthe radical pursuit of self-determination.
Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ), November, 11, 1930:
President Atatürk’s reception of US Ambassador Joseph C Grew
