Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) modernized Turkey

Turkey was once in the Ottoman Empire and Mustafa Kemal helped to make Turkey its own nation. Mustafa Kemal was the first president for 15 years. He modernized Turkey and made it more secular. He separated the laws of the country from the rules of religion. He wanted Turkey to be more like the Europeans and the Americans so he made an English system of court. Kemal gave women more rights like being able to vote & a better jobs. Kemal also wanted the Muslims to dress more like the Americans so he banded the Fez, which was a transitional hat that the officials wore. Instead Mustafa made them wear pants, a tie, a less traditional clothing. He was such a great influence for t=Turkey that he was named "the father of Turks".