Armenian Genocide
Overview
The Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) was the Ottoman government’s systematic extermination of its peaceful Christian Armenian subjects from their historic homeland within the territory constituting the present-day Republic of Turkey. As a result of the state-ordered and implemented campaign of genocide, the Ottoman Empire killed 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children, exiled the Armenian nation from its historic homeland, and destroyed and deported hundreds of thousands of its other Christian citizens.
Documentary
This educational film highlights the unprecedented humanitarian effort undertaken by the United States government to save the Armenian orphans and refugees during and after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The relief effort, spearheaded by President Woodrow Wilson and U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, was the very first non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United States, which helped save more than 132,000 orphans and more than 1 million refugees. Within a 15 year time span and from 1915-1930, the Near East Relief raised over $117 million dollars to help save the lives of countless children and provide shelter, housing, healthcare, and education to an entire nation.
5 minute trailer
30-minute documentary
Fact sheets on the near east relief
Fact sheets by state
Click on each state to highlights on the efforts of Near East Relief in rescuing and providing assistance to hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who were victims of the Genocide.
Excercise
Students can compare the activities of 2 or 3 states and answer the following questions:
- How did the United States respond to crimes against humanity and help others in need?
- What activities did US State 1 and US State 2 undertake during the Armenian Genocide?
NEar east relief posters
Middle & High School
A Curriculum Guide for Teaching about America’s Response to the Armenian, Anatolian Greek & Assyrian Genocides
The curriculum Guide was prepared by the Near East Relief and the Genocide Education Project.