The national societies that were founded under the general name of Müdafaa-i Hukuk (Defence of Rights) in nearly every corner of the country were founded on the basis of nationalism ideology. The foundation of this society that constituted the cornerstone of the National Resistance for Liberation was the expression of the determination of the Turkish nation to survive as an independent and dignified nation. However, since these National Societies had been influenced by the Wilson Principles, they had adopted the methods of peaceful resistance in the beginning. They were contented with the political activities and publications with the thought that the legal rights of the Turks would be granted. However, the misuse of Wilson Principles against the Turks, the unfair treatment of the invader states and particularly the invasion of Izmir had shown that these types of resistance and struggle were not sufficient. Therefore, these events led the national societies to take resolutions for the armed resistance and conflicts. Another weakness of these societies was that they consider the regional liberation as a remedy and there has not been any coordination among these societies. The national societies had gotten rid of these weak points after the passage of Mustafa Kemal to Anatolia and his leadership with the flambeau of the liberation. Then, they constituted a single body and they believed in the collective liberation all together. Ottoman Defence Council of Thrace and European Turkey (Trakya Paşaeli Müdafaa Heyet-i Osmaniyesi ) was founded by Mufti Mestan Effendi on the date of 1st December 1918. This society was organised in a systematic manner extending towards the provinces, districts and sub-districts of the Thrace. A subsidiary branch was opened in Adapazari apart from the Thrace. The foundational purposes were the maintenance of the integrity of Thrace and the subjection to the Ottoman State, the declaration that the Thrace was a homeland of Turks and the defence of the rights of Turks. This society had also collaborated with the Thrace Committee founded in Istanbul and it aimed to save the Thrace and if possible, the region with the Western Thrace as a Turkish and Islamic community in case of the disintegration of the Ottoman State. However, it considered to provide the support and aid of England and if not possible, the support of France to this effect. It has been understood that their target was to found a Thrace Republic. The society executed its activities in accordance with the national purposes pursuant to the passage of Mustafa Kemal Pasha to Anatolia. After the Sivas Congress, it changed its activities and program. However, it acted in compliance with the demand of the Representative Committee and it undertook the name of Thrace-European Turkey Society of Defence of Rights (Trakya-Paşaeli Müdafaa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti) and therefore, it was turned into a branch of Anatolian and Roumelian Society of Defence of Rights (Anadolu ve Rumeli Müdafaa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti). Afterwards, this society had organised Luleburgaz (21st March 2nd April 1920) and Edirne (9th-13th May 1920) congresses and it took the resolution for the armed resistance against any possible Greek invasion.
Eastern Provinces Society for the National Defence of Rights (Vilayat-ı Şarkiyye Müdafaa-i Hukuk-ı Milliye Cemiyeti) was founded in Istanbul against the possibility of the surrender of the eastern provinces to Armenia. This society published two newspapers in order to defend the rights of the Turks in their regions. One of them was published in French language under the title of Le Pays (Homeland) and the other was published in Turkish language under the name of Hadisat (Incidents). This society had forwarded memorandums to the representatives of the Allied States and the presidents of the Allies that were in Istanbul and it had also been involved in an attempt to send a council to Europe. The Erzurum branch of this society provided great services under the protection of Kazim Karabekir Pasha. He disconnected its ties with the centre of the society in Istanbul and it pioneered the assembly of Erzurum Congress. Pursuant to the congress, the society pursued and continued its activities under the name of Western Anatolian Society for the Defence of Rights (Şarkî Anadolu Müdafaa-i Hukuk Cemiyeti).
Among the other societies that had been founded in Istanbul, Cilicia Society (Kilikyalılar Cemiyeti) had performed some activities in order to defend the rights of Turks against the French and Armenian desires oriented towards Adana and its environs. The National Congress Society (Millî Kongre Cemiyeti) had provided contribution in the national awakening and national case of liberation through press and publications. National Turkish Society (Millî Türk Cemiyeti) was founded by a group of educationists in order to defend the existence of the Turkish nation among the other nations and the modern and contemporary characteristics of the Turkish nation, to create and develop a national solidarity. Some of the societies and institutions that were founded in Istanbul secretly had undertaken the provision of all sorts of material and spiritual supports for Anatolia, and particularly the hijack of weapons and ammunition. Of these societies, the principal societies were the Patrol Society (Karakol Cemiyeti) MM (Mime Mime) and Safety Groups (Felah Grupları). The Patrol Society had performed activities under the name of Police Group (Zâbitân Gurubu) in the further periods and lastly the Ferocious Group (Yavuz Grubu). The Safety Group was founded upon the demand of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and the permission and supports of Ismet Bey. The Safety Group had changed names in different periods and performed activities under the names such as Hamza, Fighter (Mücahid) and Combatant (Muharip).
House of National Determination (Azm-i Millî Yurdu) was founded in a room of Taşhan in Ankara in the year of 1919. In the periods when Ali Fuat Pasha was out of Ankara, the society continued its activities under the protection of Lieutenant Colonel Mahmut Bey who deputised the Commandership of the Army Crops XX. There were Avnirrefik, Advocate Ekrem and Feyzi Beys among the founders of this society. The society had illuminated the people about the circumstances that were experienced in the country through the organisation of conferences and it had provided the performance of plays that aroused the enthusiasm of the people on the stages of National Cinema, Sultani School and the Teachers School. Particularly the play titled as Black Days of Izmir had been extremely influential. The Scotch officers that were in Ankara in that period tried to prevent the performance of this play on the stage. However, they could not be successful against the firm stance of the military commander of Ankara.
Izmir Ottoman Society for the Defence of Rights (İzmir Müdafaa-i Hukuk-ı Osmâniye Cemiyeti) was founded in Izmir immediately after the conclusion of the Mondros Armistice. In the beginning, the society was established in order to prove the rights of Turks that constituted the majority through scientific means. In the further periods, this society resolved for an armed resistance in case of an attack of the enemy. Pursuant to Alaşehir Congress, it continued its activities in Istanbul and it had provided collaboration with the secret institutions in this region. Society for the Rejection of Annexations (Redd-i İlhak Cemiyeti) was founded in order to defend Izmir against the Greek invasions and to prevent the consequence of invasion with annexation. This society announced and declared the invasion of Izmir by Greeks to the entire Anatolia.
Trebizond National Society for the Defence of Rights (Trabzon Müdafaa-i Hukuk-ı Milliye Cemiyeti) was founded in Trebizond on the date of 10th February 1919. The purposes of the society was to defend the rights of Turks and Muslims against the Greek and Armenian allegations oriented towards Trebizond and its environs and to perform political activities to this effect and to publish scientific publications thereof. This society that established a strong organisation in Trebizond and its environs within a short period organised its first congress on the date of 23rd February 1919 and the second congress upon the invasion of Izmir on the date of 22nd May 1919. It had resolved for the armed resistance in its second congress. On the other hand, this society warned the government in Istanbul that was weak against the fait accompli of the enemies and it declared the determination of the people of Trebizond to survive as a Turkish and Islamic land. A council composed of three persons that this society had sent to Istanbul was received by the ruler. This society had important contributions in the National Resistance as one of the two societies that pioneered the assembly of Erzurum Congress.