American missionary diplomacy and the Young Turks at the turn of the twentieth century

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the diplomatic relations between the United States and the Ottoman Empire in 1908-1918. The central focus is on the role of missionaries in preventing potential conflict and maintaining peaceful relations between American and Ottoman officials. This thesis is mainly based on examining various primary sources and archival collections. The primary purpose of the thesis is to provide a new perspective on the relations between American missionaries and the Young Turks. The main argument is that missionary institutions were the primary reason that both states did not declare war on each other during World War I.