Question

Why did the Hutus in Rwanda hold a deep hatred for the Tutsis?

The Tutsis unrelentingly persecuted the Hutus when they were in power.
The Tutsis were a minority who had historically ruled over the Hutus.
The Tutsis held most of the country’s wealth even though they were a minority.
The Tutsis were a threat because their population was growing rapidly.

Answer 1

Correct answers: 2 and 3.

Brief explanation:
- Historically the Tutsi were a minority elite who dominated political power and social hierarchy in Rwanda (statement 2).
- They also controlled a disproportionate share of land, cattle, education and administrative jobs, so most wealth and opportunity was concentrated in Tutsi hands (statement 3).
Those two facts—minority rule and economic/political inequality—were the principal roots of Hutu resentment.

Statement 1 is exaggerated: Tutsi elites exercised dominance and discrimination, which bred anger, but “unrelentingly persecuted” is an overstatement of the day‑to‑day relationship before the mass violence episodes. Statement 4 is incorrect: rapid Tutsi population growth was not a major cause.