The severe conditions of armistice were being suffered during the days of Sivas Congress too. Execution of Mondros Armistice against our nation in a unjust and cruel manner, Greek advance to middle Anatolia as a result of courage derived from States of Entente, occupation of many of our provinces followed each other during days of Sivas Congress too. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, in such an atmosphere, went from Erzurum to Sivas to participate in Sivas Congress together with some members of Delegation of Representatives on 2 September 1919.
Sivas Congress was gathered with attendance of 38 delegates in the hall of a building used as Sultani School on 4 September 1919. The congress went on for 8 days and ended its activities by issuing a declaration pursuant to election of Delegation of Representatives. In the first session Mustafa Kemal Pasha was elected the chairman. The reason for gathering such an important congress, representing the whole country, pursuant to Erzurum Congress, was in relation with the strategical position of the city.
Despite there were some officers representing states of entente, this city was not occupied as per conditions of armistice.
31 of 38 members of the congress were members from western and middle Anatolia provinces and 7 were from Delegation of Representatives elected by Erzurum Congress representing Eastern Anatolia provinces. Thus, the Delegation of Representatives representing Eastern Anatolia provinces and delegates from West and Eastern Anatolia provinces made Sivas Congress gain countrywide integrity.
One important feature of Sivas congress is that the delegates took oath in the Congress that they would not have any personal objectives other than rescuing the motherland and achieving happiness of the nation, and that they would not serve any of the objectives of current political parties. This revealed that National Fight was not made on behalf of a political party but to save the nation and country only.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to Istanbul with some of his friends and Delegation of Representatives on 27 December 1919 to Ankara. Now, the national fight was being governed from Ankara and many patriots either civilians or member of the army in Istanbul went to Ankara to take part in the war of independence.
Some time later, on 16 March 1920, Istanbul was occupied de facto by States of Entente. The city was under complete military control of the foreigners. The Parliament broke up seeing that it cannot act under these circumstances; some of the deputies were already arrested by the British.
Mustafa Kemal, issuing orders that the governorates and army corps commands should elect new representatives with extraordinary powers for a parliament to assemble in Ankara upon occupation of Istanbul. Elections were completed rapidly. At last, on 23 April 1920, Turkish Parliament was inaugurated in Ankara by deputies of the nation from all over the country. Mustafa Kemal, by being elected as the chairman of this Parliament and president of its government, became the military, political and social leader of Turkish independence fight from all aspects.