Question

Which explains why Ottoman leaders began a policy of deportation and extermination of Armenians within their empire?

Answer 1

Answer:

They feared that Armenians were supporting Russia, an Ottoman enemy in World War I.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

A) They claimed that Armenians were trying to establish their own state within the Ottoman Empire

Explanation:

The Ottomans lost lot of territory from what was once the large, and very powerful empire. Because of this, they were forcing everyone to declare themselves as Turks, as well as to accept the Sunni Islam, thus to create a state with one ethnic group and one religion. The Armenians were not fond of this and rejected it, so the Ottomans were afraid that they will try to separate part of the country thus make it even smaller. Because of this, the Ottomans started  with genocide over the Armenians, resulting on over 1.5 million deaths, and many more displaced, people separated from their families, and even mothers separated from their little children.