Armenian Genocide Timeline

  • 1800-1877

    -Ottomon Empire have fought several wars over terrority
    -1877-Russia and Ottomon fighting in Balkans and traditional Armenian provinces
    -Armenians are not allowed to serve in the military
  • 1878

    Ottomon Empire ask Russia for end to fighting and peace for negotiations
    -Treaty of Berlin included: Independence to Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania, Autonomy to Bosnia, and awarded several districts in Caucasus with large Armenian populations.
  • 1878-1881

    -European powers remained sultan of Ottom Empire of obligations under the treaty
    -Conditions for Armenians did not improve
  • 1894

    -Tension between Ottomon government and Armenians erupted
    -There was a protest by the Armenians, they did not pay their taxes
    -Ottomon troops sent in to stop the protest
    -Nearly 200,000 Armenians killed
  • 1895

    -In resposne to the massacres, members in the US Congress called for an independant Armenian state protected by 'civilized' nations of the world, but it was rejected by the president.
    -Armenian leaderts worked to find a strategy to give protection
    -Oct 1; 2000 Armenians gathered at the capital to demand civil rights.
  • August 1896

    -Non violent protests usually ended up with brutally broken up the sultant - they needed another option
    -They plotted over taking Bank Ottomon
    -They were inexperienced, so they failed
    -6000 Armenians were killed shortly afterward and some went to france.
  • 1902-1907

    -An Organization known as the Young Turks began to emerge, they called for equal rights.
    -1907; organized second congress of ottomon liberals called for immediate overthrow of the sultan
  • 1909

    Adana Massacre
    -Tensions exploded between Turks loyal to the sultant and Armenians, Armenians were happy they get to enjoy freedom
    -A riot resulted, and attacks happened on the Armenians
    -By the end of the riot, 21,000 dead
  • 1908-1913

    There was diversity of opinion with Young Turk movement, became clear that one branch worked with Armenians and the other favoured Turkish nationalism
    -1913; they overthrow the sultan
  • 1914;WW1

    -Germany and Ottomon Empire form a secret military alliance
    -They issue a proclamation declearing to extend its borders and unite "all branches of our race"
    -Thousands of Armenians sent to defend the country in WW1
  • 1914; At home

    -Relationships between Turks and non muslim minorities weaken
    -The "10 Commandments" are written by the Young Turks
  • January 1915

    -Armenian soldiers serve in WW1
    -They are taken by stages to remote areas and executed
  • May 1915

    -What was going on was not a secret, world powers knew
    -Turkey made the deportation official by issuing a decree claming treason, sabotage, and terrorist acts on part of the Armenians
  • April 1984

    -The Permanent People's Tribunal - held a session consdering the facts of what happened during the genocide
    -Ruled that the Turkish government was responbile for the genocide of the Armenians.