Cumhuriyet döneminde gümüşhane (1923-1950)

This thesis examines the political, administrative, demographic, economic, cultural, and social transformation that took place in the province of Gümüşhane from the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey to 1950. It aims to reveal how the central modernization and centralization policies implemented in the early Republican period were reflected in the provinces, focusing on Gümüşhane within the framework of provincial administration. In this context, the administrative structure, political life, political representation, electoral processes, population developments, economic activities, and socio-cultural change are evaluated together. The study analyzes the activities of the governors who served in Gümüşhane, local government practices, the provincial organization of the Republican People’s Party, the local organization of the Democrat Party during the transition to multi-party politics, and municipal elections. It also examines the socio-economic structure of the province through population censuses, administrative divisions, agriculture, animal husbandry, mining, trade, municipal services, and infrastructure. In the fields of education and culture, the activities of institutions such as Nation Schools, educational institutions, and People’s Houses are analyzed; the development of the religious structure and health organization is also discussed within the social dimension of provincial administration in the Republican period. The study is based on primary sources such as archival documents, the proceedings of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, salnames, population tables, official reports, and the local press. The findings demonstrate how center-periphery relations were shaped in Gümüşhane during the early Republican period and aim to contribute to local historiography.