Short-Term Reasons

• The Ilinden Uprising went on to cause another immediate threat
• The Sultan’s fierce and brutal response bred more determined and ambitious nationalist groups

  • Serbian nationalists increased their use of guerrilla activities in Macedonia
• The Sultan’s actions attracted international attention and resulted in a further loss of Ottoman territory, as shown by the Murzsteg agreement
• The Sultan was also receiving pressure from angry army officers stationed in Macedonia who often went for months without pay
• The Sultan’s opposition was far from united, there were two main groups:

  • Those who believed the Empire should be divided along ethnic and religious divides

  • Those who believed the Empire should be retained with a strong government in central control
• Mustafa Kemal a young army officer, was instrumental in founding a secret society in Damascus in 1906 called Vatan (Fatherland)

  • In 1907 this merged with existing nationalist and reformist groups which led to the formation of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)
• The Young Turk Revolution began with an army mutiny, triggered by long term frustration of the Turkish troops stationed there who had been unpaid for months.