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Period: Jan 1, 1453 to
The Armenians
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Oct 31, 1453
Ottoman Rule
Armenia became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1453 when the Byzantine Empire was conquered by Mehmed II.
The Armenians were tolerated, but did not experience full equality under Islamic law, because the Armenians were Christain and not Muslim. -
Hamid II
Sultan Abdul hamid II came to power and attempted to stop the many revolutions within the empire. He did this mainly by encouraging Muslim groups to settle in Armenian lands. -
The Rebellion
Wide spread conflict insued in 1894, consequently Hamid falsly charged the Armenians for rebelling without authority. -
First Massacre
Turkish military and ordinary men attacked Armenian villages. -
The Young Turks
A new government formed in Turkey called the "Young Turks", which over threw the sultan. This group promised reform and the Armenians supported it. They pushed for reforms such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and freedom of nationalism. -
Declared Enemies
The Armenians were labeled enemies of Muslim Turkey. -
Defeat of Ottoman Empire
Four Balkan states defeated the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire lost nearly all of its holdings in Europe. -
Entered the War
Turkey entered World War I. -
Arrests and Executions
Turkish authorities arrested and executed Armenian leaders in Constantinople. This day would be forever remembered as the beginning of the Armenian genocide. -
Deportations
The Armenian population was deported to the deserts pf Syria and Iraq. The majority of people were either murdered or died of thirst and starvation along the way. -
Deaths in Deserts
Interior Ministry report from Aleppo advises that 75 percent of the Armenians in the desert are now dead and only 25 percent are alive. -
Turkey signs treaty
Turkey signs treaty with allies and the Ottoman Empire is dismantled. -
Young Turks Trial
The Young Turks were put on trial for war crimes and were found guilty for the destruction of the Armenian people. -
Mustafa Ataturk
A war hero, Mustafa Ataturk, came to pwer, formed the Republic of Turkey, and released all prisoners found guilty of war crimes (including the Young Turks). -
Armenian Population Elimination
The Armenian population had been completely eliminated from Asia minor and historic West Armenia. -
Raphael Lemkin
The term Genocide was coined by a Polish lawyer know as Raphael Lemkin. -
Genocide Crime
Genocide became a crime. -
Council of Europe
Armenia became a full member of the Council of Europe. -
Law Passed
A law was passed by the Turkish government making it illegal to speak or write about the genocide. -
Relations
Until this day the United States of America doesn't recognize the Armenian genocide.