Which of the following was NOT…

History Questions
Short Answer
Step by Step Solution
History Questions

Which of the following was NOT a cause of the Armenian genocide in 1915? A. The Armenians perpetrated a genocide against the Turks a decade prior. B. The Armenians were generally wealthier and more educated than the Turks. C. The Young Turks aimed to eliminate all ethnic and religious diversity in the Ottoman Empire. D. World War I began, leading the Turks to fear that Armenians would ally with the Russians.

Short Answer

The Armenians were not aggressors against the Turks before the genocide, as historical evidence shows they were in a stronger socioeconomic position. The genocide was motivated by the Young Turks’ desire for a homogenous Muslim state and intensified by fears during World War I that Armenians might ally with enemy forces.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Understand the Historical Context

The statement in question suggests that the Armenians were the aggressors against the Turks before the genocide. This is incorrect, as there are no historical records indicating that the Armenians ever enacted genocide on the Turks. Instead, Armenians were often economically and educationally better off than their Turkish counterparts prior to the events of 1915.

Step 2: Analyze the Motivations Behind the Genocide

The motivations for the Armenian genocide were deeply rooted in the socio-political landscape of the Ottoman Empire. The Young Turks, aiming to promote a homogeneous Muslim state, viewed the Armenians, a predominantly Christian population, as a threat to their agenda. Their desire to eliminate ethnic and religious diversity was a significant factor in the atrocities that followed.

Step 3: Consider the Impact of World War I

The backdrop of World War I intensified the Turks’ fears regarding the Armenians. With the war ongoing, the Ottoman leaders speculated that Armenians might side with the Russians, who were considered adversaries. This fear further fueled the rationale for their violent campaign against the Armenian population, solidifying the decision to carry out a systematic genocide.

Related Concepts

Historical context

The political, social, and economic conditions surrounding a specific historical event that help to understand its significance and implications

Young turks

A group of reformist officers in the late ottoman empire who sought to establish a more secular and nationalist state, often at the expense of ethnic and religious minorities

World war i

A global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918, which played a crucial role in shaping geopolitical dynamics and national identities, indirectly contributing to events like the armenian genocide.

Table Of Contents
  1. Which of the following was NOT a cause of the Armenian genocide in 1915? A. The Armenians perpetrated a genocide against the Turks a decade prior. B. The Armenians were generally wealthier and more educated than the Turks. C. The Young Turks aimed to eliminate all ethnic and religious diversity in the Ottoman Empire. D. World War I began, leading the Turks to fear that Armenians would ally with the Russians.

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