San Stefano Treaty and Berlin Congress could be named as the starting point of the "Armenian Question". San Stefano Treaty was signed after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. Its article number 16, which the Ottoman government had signed by force is as follows:

"The Ottoman government, for the territories which it retained in Armenia, promises reforms and improvements as required for the Armenian inhabitants, and guarantees of their security against the Circassians and Kurds."

This article of San Stefano did not satisfy the Armenians calling for independence but for the first time in history, "Armenian Question" and "Armenia" concepts were mentioned in an international document.

In like manner, Russia and Turkey had signed the Treaty of Berlin at the conclusion of the Congress of Berlin (1878). The article 16 of San Stefano was revised with article 61, which was as fallow:

"The Ottoman government promises necessary reforms and improvements for the Armenian subjects and guarantees of their peace and security against the Kurds and Circassians. The Ottoman government will periodically report the steps it took to the powers, who would superintend their application."

The concerned article of the Berlin Treaty introduced European intervention on the relations between the Ottoman government and the Armenian subjects.

After the Treaty of Berlin, "Armenian Question" progressed in two directions. The first direction is increasing European interference and pressure on the Ottoman internal affairs, the second is Armenian armament, and secret organisations emerged in Syria, Anatolia, and Roumelia.

Russia was the initial provocateur of the secret Armenian organisations. This protective role of Russia urged Britain and France's interest on the Armenians. The number of the British Consulates in the Eastern Anatolia increased and many Protestant missionaries were sent to the region.

Because of European provocation, the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire began to form local nationalist groups and secret societies. However, all these organisations remained local and failed to create a widespread influence. The Armenian habitants living in peace and welfare did not join those radical societies and many of them ended.

Henceforth, the failure to create a movement among the Ottoman Armenians led the Armenian nationalists to form societies in Russia. Thus, in 1887, an organisation was formed on socialist lines, in Geneva, named Hunchak. In Tiflis, in 1890, an Armenian Committee more rebellious, more nationalist, and more radical was founded, named Dashnaktsutium, whose members were commonly called Dashnaks. The target of those committees was Anatolia and "to give freedom to the Ottoman Armenians."

First the Hunchaks began to organise demonstrations mainly targeting to attract the attention of the European powers and the Dasnaks followed these attempts. The main characteristics of these demonstrations are their planing and leading systems. All the actions were planned and led outside Turkey.

The first revolt was in Erzurum, in 1890. Kumkapi demonstration followed this revolt and Kayseri, Yozgat, Corum and Merzifon events became next between 1892-93. In 1894, Sasun revolt, in 1895 Babiali demonstration and Zeytun revolt were organised. In 1896, the Ottoman Bank was occupied and Van was raided. In 1903, the second Sasun revolt was occurred. In 1905, an assassination to Sultan Abdulhamid was made but failed and Adana revolt, in 1909, followed this unsuccessful attempt.

The Ottoman Army repressed the revolts, they were accused as murderers, and the Armenians gave the whole world a false message as "the Muslims are killing the Christians." With these events, "Armenian Question" raised and gained a more international identity. The target of Armenian revolts was to create anarchy and chaos in Turkey to incite the Ottoman army forces. In fact, the reports of the British and Russian diplomatic missions reveal the reality. The British and Russian consulates in Anatolia and the Christian missionaries played an important role in Armenian propaganda and they have misled the public opinion.