Some Thoughts on the Proclamation of Second Constitution: A Coup d’etat or a Revolution?

Political climate in the Balkans became tense over the Macedonia question and recent political developments exposed the weakness of the Ottoman state. The CUP leadership worried about the struggle among the Western Powers in the Balkans. The CUP criticized Abdulhamid II of being passive against the Western Powers and raised their opposition against him, yet they lacked experience and failed to analyze ongoing political developments. They did not have a clear program, nor did they offer a reform project. Ignoring Anglo-Russian rapprochement, relying on the increasing number of their members in Macedonia, they set up a secret plan against Abdulhamid II. Colonels in the third brigade rose in revolt against Abdulhamid II and, with the support of minorities and the Consulates in Rumelia, increased the pressure on the Sultan. They demanded more freedom, but had no backing from the middle-class and merchants; their movement relied on military-bureaucratic class. The meeting in Firzovik was misrepresented to the Yıldız Palace and the Sultan worried about the meeting; Miralay Galip Bey narrated that the protest of Albanians was pro-constitutional (mesrutiyet) whereas the Albanians had gathered to protest the possibility of Austrian invasion of Kosovo. The constitution movement did not have popular backing, thus it was always a debatable issue. Relying on primary sources this article attempts to revise some conventions on this issue. Is it a coup or revolution?