Greek plebiscite, 1924
Encyclopedia
The Greek plebiscite of 1924 following the "Catastrophe" of the Asia Minor Campaign in which Greek dreams of recapturing Constantinople
were dashed. As a result of the military defeat, King Constantine I
was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, King George II
. He went into exile in Romania, the home of his wife, while the government debated the fate of the monarchy. Ultimately, a plebescite was called for April 13, 1924. This referendum, following the restoration of the monarchy in 1920, reflected the see-saw nature of the Greek electorate and the then-present dominance of the Liberal and Republican Venizelists
in Greek politics and abolished the Crown for 11 years. The election results showed 69.78% of the electorate, now including the refugees
from Asia Minor
, approved the government proposal for the abolition of the monarchy
. On March 25, 1924 the Second Hellenic Republic
was proclaimed.
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
were dashed. As a result of the military defeat, King Constantine I
Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, King George II
George II of Greece
George II reigned as King of Greece from 1922 to 1924 and from 1935 to 1947.-Early life, first period of kingship and exile:George was born at the royal villa at Tatoi, near Athens, the eldest son of King Constantine I of Greece and his wife, Princess Sophia of Prussia...
. He went into exile in Romania, the home of his wife, while the government debated the fate of the monarchy. Ultimately, a plebescite was called for April 13, 1924. This referendum, following the restoration of the monarchy in 1920, reflected the see-saw nature of the Greek electorate and the then-present dominance of the Liberal and Republican Venizelists
Venizelism
Venizelism was one of the major political movements in Greece from the 1900s until the mid 1970s.- Ideology :Named after Eleftherios Venizelos, the key characteristics of Venizelism were:*Opposition to Monarchy...
in Greek politics and abolished the Crown for 11 years. The election results showed 69.78% of the electorate, now including the refugees
Population exchange between Greece and Turkey
The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey was based upon religious identity, and involved the Greek Orthodox citizens of Turkey and the Muslim citizens of Greece...
from Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, approved the government proposal for the abolition of the monarchy
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
. On March 25, 1924 the Second Hellenic Republic
Second Hellenic Republic
The Second Hellenic Republic is the term used to describe the political regime of Greece from 1924 to 1935. It followed from the period of the constitutional monarchy under the monarchs of the House of Glücksburg, and lasted until its overthrow in a military coup d'état which restored the monarchy...
was proclaimed.