Adapazari in the Second Constitutional Era (1908-1918)

Following the declaration of the Second Constitutional Era, the Ottoman Empire has undergone a transformation process in every field. The Unionists, who proclaimed the constitutional monarchy and ensured opening of the parliament, aimed to gain sympathy of the people by creating an atmosphere of freedom and to make their practices acceptable to the public. The Unionist cadre, who ensured opening of the First Parliament that has been closed for 29 years, was of the opinion that the elections should immediately be held. These elections were held by adopting a new law on elections. The pleasant atmosphere offered by the Unionists in the beginning would be replaced by chaos in time. Adapazarı felt this transformation process more closely than other Anatolian towns and was even involved in the events. The Unionists sometimes made mistakes with their practices to gain the trust of the people, and Adapazarı, like other Anatolian towns, had its share. For example, the Unionists have released the prisoners, as evidence of the "freedom" discourse they promised and frequently expressed in their slogans, resulting in the return of the people who were exiled abroad. This paved the way for a chaos environment by creating public disorder. As a result of the immigration waves experienced within the scope of the 1877-78 Ottoman Russian War, Tripoli, Balkan and World Wars, Istanbul was no longer considered a refugee and the refugees were transferred to the surrounding provinces. This thesis aims to analyse how the Second Constitutional Era found an echo in Adapazarı considering the events that took place in Adapazarı in the Second Constitutional Era, from 1908 to 1919. For this purpose, an evaluation has been made about Adapazarı in the light of archives and by examining other sources.