Reading about the city from a local newspaper in the early years of the Republic: Ertuğrul newspaper and Bursa (1923-1925)

This study titled Reading About the City from a Local Newspaper in the Early Years of the Republic: Ertuğrul Newspaper and Bursa (1923-1925) makes an observation about Bursa, the first capital and an ancient city of the Ottoman Empire, by shedding light on the city from the window of a local newspaper in the early years of the republic. This study examines the political, economic and social problems faced by the newly established Republic of Turkey in the context of Bursa and transfers them to the present day. The years 1923-1925 were the most difficult and troubled years of the Republic of Turkey. The difficulties brought by the dilemma of both continuing the Ottoman Empire and becoming a new state were felt in every region of Anatolia, and Bursa, an ancient Ottoman city, was also affected by this. The westernization movements in the Ottoman Empire, which accelerated with the Tanzimat Period, made themselves felt in every field, and new ideas and views began to be discussed at the state level. The Ottoman Empire, which was a multinational empire, struggled to maintain its political unity under the influence of nationalist movements, while on the other hand, it struggled to adapt to the new world with westernization movements. With the defeat and dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, a new state was established in Anatolian lands and the newly established Republic of Turkey (1923) entered into a struggle for existence. On the other hand, the aim of reaching the level of development of western civilization brought difficulties. Ertuğrul newspaper, published in Bursa during the first years of the Republic (1923-1925), addressed the problems and events encountered locally and in general throughout the country, and from time-to-time suggested solutions. Every original source and document providing information about this period will enable us to understand the period better. Keywords: Republic Period, Ertuğrul Newspaper, Bursa.