Boundary Between Turkey and Armenia: As Determined by Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America

Description

The disintegration of the Ottoman and Russian empires at the end of World War I gave birth to a number of new states. In May 1918, Eastern Armenia, formerly part of the Russian Empire, declared itself an independent republic. In April 1920, the victorious Allied Powers, dismantling the Ottoman Empire, directed that Western Armenia be attached to the new republic and appointed U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to arbitrate the boundary between Turkey (successor to the Ottoman Empire) and Armenia. In November 1920, Wilson set a boundary based on a variety of geographic, demographic, ethnic, and historical factors. This map, compiled under the direction of the U.S. Army by the Topographic Branch of the U.S. Geological Survey, shows Wilson’s award. However, the Treaty of Sevres that provided for an independent Armenia and recognized Wilson’s arbitration was never ratified. Turkish nationalists under Mustafa Kemal overthrew the Turkish monarchy, established a republic, and invaded Armenia, eventually forcing it to relinquish much of the territory that Wilson’s arbitration had awarded to the new country. Russian Bolshevik forces also invaded Armenia and incorporated what was left of the Armenian Republic into the new Soviet Union.

Date Created

Subject Date

Publication Information

Washington, D.C.

Language

English

Title in Original Language

Boundary Between Turkey and Armenia: as Determined by Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America

Type of Item

Maps

Physical Description

1 color map ; 70 x 74 centimeters

Notes

  • Scale 1:1,000,000
  • Library of Congress copy 2 signed by Woodrow Wilson

Last updated: September 29, 2014