What prompted it?

01

02

03

A group of "reformers" take control of the Turkish government called the "Young Turks." Armenians had never been viewed as equal in Turkey so there was hope the reformers would change that.

However, it was soon apparent that the Young Turks wanted most of all to “Turkify” the empire. Non-Turks and especially Christian non-Turks were viewed as a threat.

WWI begins and Turkey enters the war as allies of Germany. At the same time, Ottomans declared a holy war against all Christians. The Armenians were labeled as traitors because they could win independence if the Allies won. The Armenians began helping the Russians and Turks pushed for their extermination.