7.8 Mass Atrocities after 1900

Genocide and Mass Atrocities

The 20th century saw devastating genocides and mass atrocities, often tied to war, nationalism, and ethnic hatred. Key examples include the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) by the Ottoman government, the Holocaust (1941-1945) where Nazi Germany systematically murdered six million Jews and other groups, and later events like the Cambodian Genocide (1975-1979) and the Rwandan Genocide (1994).

Causes and Context

Mass atrocities often arose from extreme nationalism, totalitarian ideologies, ethnic/religious scapegoating, and the breakdown of political order during war. Governments used propaganda to dehumanize targeted groups, framing them as threats. Colonial legacies, like ethnic divisions manipulated by European powers in Rwanda, also fueled later violence between Hutus and Tutsis.

International Response

The United Nations defined genocide in 1948 following the Holocaust, aiming to prevent future atrocities. Despite this, the international community often failed to intervene quickly, as seen in Rwanda and Cambodia. Post-atrocity responses included war crimes tribunals like Nuremberg Trials and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, seeking accountability and justice.

Key terms

The Holocaust

Nazi Germany's systematic genocide of six million Jews and other groups (1941-1945).

Armenian Genocide

Systematic killing and deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman government (1915-1923).

Rwandan Genocide

1994 mass killing of Tutsis by Hutu extremists, rooted in colonial-era ethnic divisions.

Khmer Rouge

Cambodian regime under Pol Pot responsible for the deaths of 1.5-2 million people (1975-1979).

Nuremberg Trials

Post-WWII trials that held Nazi leaders accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Try an AP-style question

The Holocaust was…

1. a Japanese invasion of China
2. a Turkish deportation
3. a Soviet famine policy
4. the Nazi genocide of six million Jews