In 3-5 sentences, explain why the Ottoman Turks committed genocide against the Armenians. (4 points)

Answer 1

The Ottoman Turks committed genocide against the Armenians during World War I due to a combination of ethnic nationalism, wartime paranoia, and the desire to consolidate power. The Ottoman Empire, already in decline, viewed the Armenian population as a potential threat, fearing that their ties to Russia could lead to disloyalty and separatism. Economic grievances, social tensions, and the portrayal of Armenians as a scapegoat for the empire's struggles fueled widespread violence. This culminated in the systematic extermination and deportation of Armenians from their ancestral lands, leading to the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million people.