A Snow Day With a Proclamation in Mind..

The Gulhane Proclamation begins looking through history, past to present, and relives a handful of the reasons and causes for the decline of the ottoman empire as well as the reasons for this, and other proclamations. Quickly the proclamation transitions to the present with a tone of seriousness and trust; the proclamation addresses its means while maintaining trustful ties with the peoples in which it refers to. “A good administration” with “full confidence” towards benefiting the peoples seems to be the main purpose for the author(s) of the document. After considering the document, it is quite apparent that it was produced post-French Revolution, with regards to the massive improvements the document hopes to provide as well as alluring to the people it is focused on. Oddly enough, the document also portrays a slight similarity to the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution with regards to incorporating "security of life, honor, and fortune." This idea seems all to familiar considering most Americans have the words "life, liberty, and property" burned into our minds. Often peoples and historians mistake the Ottoman Empire for not attempting to change during this time period, but after reflecting over this document as well as many others, one can plainly see in which ways the authority within the Ottoman Empire were trying to enforce change for the better, and for the people.