Name:______________________________________________________________________
U.S. History
Ms. Eraqi
Hour:________
The Decline of the Ottoman Empire & The Birth of Modern Middle East
1. What empire had controlled much of the Middle East since the 15th century?
2. By 1914 this Islamic Empire began to lose much of its power in the region when compared to
other European powers such as England and France. Explain the three main reasons that led to
the empire's collapse:
a. Trade:
b. Internal Conflict:
c. Government Reform
3. Why do you think European power referred to the Ottoman Empire as the "Sick Man in Europe?"
4. Select three words that you would use to describe the Ottoman Empire just before the beginning
of WWI and use a thesaurus to find an alternative word of the same meaning. (Feel free to use
your cell phone for this part).
a.
b.
c.
5. Who are the Young Turks?
6. Describe two accomplishments of the Young Turks:
a.
b.
7. Describe two failures of the Young Turks:
a.
b.
8. Why was German so interested in the Ottoman Empire's territory within the Middle East?
a. This is an example of which of the four MAIN causes of WWI?
9. Why did Turkey side with the Central Powers as opposed to the Allies?
10. Great Britain wanted the support of the Arabs in the Middle East to rebel again the Ottoman
Empire and help the Allied Powers. Why did the Arabs agree?
11. Write a brief statement explaining who the following men were:
a. Henry McMahon
b. Sherif Hussein of Mecca:
12. Describe the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence of 1914:
a. What did Sherif Hussein of Mecca promise?
b. What did McMahon promise on behalf of England?
c. How were Sherif Hussein's sons involved in the agreement?
13. Who was T.E. Lawrence?
a. What was his nickname?
14. Describe the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916:
a. Who was this an agreement between?
b. What was promised and to whom?
c. Why is the Sykes-Picot Agreement problematic for the Arabs of the Middle East?
15. Who is Theodore Herzl?
a. What is the Zionist Movement?
16. What was the Balfour Declaration?
a. Who was the Declaration written to?
b. Why?
c. In what year?
d. Why was this agreement problematic for the Arabs of the Middle East?
e. Why was this agreement problematic for the French?
17. When did the Ottoman Empire finally surrender to Allied forces?
18. What is a mandate?
19. Describe some of the issues of establishing and maintaining a mandate, from both the perspective
of the Powers in control and the territory being mandated: