The Ottoman government's series of constitutional reforms…

The Ottoman government's series of constitutional reforms during the Tanzimat period has led to a fairly modern conscripted army, banking system reforms, the decriminalization of homosexuality, the replacement of religious law with secular law, and guilds with modern factories.

A group of reformers known as the Young Ottomans, primarily educated in western universities, believes that a constitutional monarchy would give an answer to the Empire's growing social unrest.

Through a military coup in 1876, they force Sultan Abdülaziz to abdicate in favor of Murad V, who is highly influenced by French culture.

After reigning ninety-three days, Murad is deposed on the grounds that he is supposedly mentally ill; however, his opponents may likely have used those grounds to stop his implementation of democratic reforms.

As a result, he is unable to deliver the Constitution that his supporters had sought.

His heir-apparent, Abdülhamid II (1876–1909), is invited to assume power on the condition that he will declare a constitutional monarchy, which he does on November 23, 1876.

The reformist period in the Ottoman Empire peaks with the Constitution, called the Kanûn-u Esâsî (meaning "Basic Law" in Ottoman Turkish), written by members of the Young Ottomans.

It establishes the freedom of belief and equality of all citizens before the law.

The first Ottoman parliament convenes in Constantinople in 1876, and elects the first Palestinian deputies from Jerusalem.

The first international mailing network between Istanbul and the lands beyond the vast Ottoman Empire is established.