The American colleges and the socio-cultural effects of these colleges on Turkish social structure

The present study aims at finding out the reasons for the arise of American colleges in Turkey, general features of the educational activities they carry out, and their socio-cultural effects on the Turkish social structure.In the present study which is based on field search, document use and examination were done in data gathering process. To find a solution to the research problem, the documents in American Board of Commissioner for Foreign Mission Archieve, American Board Commissioners Archieve, Prime Ministry Ottoman Archieve and Ministry of Education Board, Board of Education and Discipline Archieve were made use of. In addition, the related domestic and foreign resources and the published research studies and memories of the people who founded these schools or worked there were used for the study.The data received from the documents were evaluated, read each, and classified depending on its subject. The data received were analyzed and interpreted according to the subject headings determined in line with the aims of the study.As a result of the study, it was found out that nearly all American colleges in Turkey were founded and administered by American Board and the student profile of these colleges was usually composed of the Greeks and Armenians, especially in the pre-republican period, depending on the region. In the curricula of these colleges, it was given importance to the teaching of the languages of Non-Muslims living under the constitution of Ottoman Empire and it was attempted to form the literature belonging to them and these efforts were supported by the press activities of the missionaries. On the other hand, American missionaries and the works of the colleges founded by them were influential on the change of various material, spiritual and cultural elements.Key Words: American Colleges, American Missionaries, Ecclesiastic Education, Language Education, Press Activities, Cultural Change.