History Commons^™

Session 2: Panel 3: Presenter 1 (Paper) -- Friend Or Foe?: The American Response To The Armenian Genocide, 1890-1920, Mete Bakircioglu

Young Historians Conference

This paper analyzes how the American response to the Armenian Genocide was riddled with neglect, false promises, and selfish intentions. Beginning in the early 20th century, the American public was galvanized in support of Armenians under the oppressive rule of the Ottoman Empire, but Congress prioritized relations with the Empire and passed no foreign policy to ameliorate the plight of Armenians. The United States’ posturing as an international arbiter of justice, especially during the Wilson Administration, was a façade to expand global influence.