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Difficulty: HardMass Atrocities After 1900

"Every Hutu must know that the Tutsi woman, wherever she may be, works for the interest of her Tutsi ethnic group. Consequently, any Hutu who marries a Tutsi woman... is a traitor.
...
Every Hutu must know that all Tutsis are dishonest in business. Their only aim is the supremacy of their ethnic group.
...
All military positions, command posts, and security forces must be entrusted to Hutus. No Hutu should marry a Tutsi, nor should any Hutu employ a Tutsi. The Hutus must stop having mercy on the Tutsis."

— Excerpt from the "Hutu Ten Commandments," published in the Rwandan newspaper *Kangura*, 1990

Which of the following conclusions about twentieth-century mass atrocities is best supported by the ideas expressed in the excerpt?

  1. They were highly organized, state-sponsored campaigns driven by extremist political ideologies rather than spontaneous outbreaks of ancient ethnic conflicts.Answer
  2. B
    They were the inevitable result of natural selection and Social Darwinist competition between distinct racial groups in post-colonial societies.
  3. C
    They were primarily driven by Western powers attempting to re-establish direct colonial rule and economic imperialism.
  4. D
    They resulted from the failure of the League of Nations to properly administer mandate territories after World War I.

Answer

Mass atrocities in the twentieth century, such as the Rwandan Genocide, were highly organized, state-sponsored campaigns driven by extremist political ideologies rather than spontaneous outbreaks of ancient ethnic conflicts.
The correct answer is correct because the 'Hutu Ten Commandments' represents a deliberate, organized effort by extremist elites to use mass media to dehumanize a minority group and prepare the population for systematic violence. This illustrates that twentieth-century mass atrocities were not spontaneous, chaotic tribal conflicts, but highly structured, state-sanctioned campaigns driven by political ideology.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus excerpt.
The excerpt outlines systematic rules to exclude and dehumanize the Tutsi minority, emphasizing control over state institutions, the military, and social life.
To identify the core mechanism being advocated, which is state-directed, planned discrimination and exclusion.
2
Evaluate the historical context of the source.
The 'Hutu Ten Commandments' was published in 1990 by Hutu extremists to mobilize the population and lay the ideological foundation for the 1994 genocide.
To connect the document to the broader theme of mass atrocities and state-planned violence after 1900.
3
Assess the options to find the best-supported conclusion.
Genocides like the Rwandan Genocide are planned by state actors using systematic propaganda and ideology, refuting the misconception that they are merely spontaneous outbursts of ancient hatred.
To select the option that correctly characterizes the organized, ideological, and state-driven nature of modern mass atrocities.

Key Concept

The role of state planning, extremist ideologies, and propaganda in twentieth-century mass atrocities.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Mass Atrocities After 1900

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