The Ottoman Turks committed genocide against the Armenians because of ethnic and religious tensions between the two groups. The Armenians were seen as a threat to the Ottoman Empire due to their calls for independence and alleged support for Russia during World War I. The Young Turk government wanted to eliminate the Armenian population to solidify their power and create a more homogenous state. The genocide resulted in the deaths of over 1 million Armenians and is considered one of the first modern genocides.
