The missionary of American Board and its effects to the 1892-1893 Merzi̇fon Armenian Revolt

The subject of this research is the effect of the activities of the American Board organization on the Merzifon Armenian events in the scope of missionary activities that Ottoman State was exposed at the beginning of the 19. Century. Many missionary organizations were established to spread Christianity in Europe and America. One of the missionary organizations which had the greatest effect was American Board representative organization founded in Boston in June 27, 1810 in Anatolia. "Holy Lands" which was within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire are among the primary targets of this organization which is one of the most important American Protestant missionary organizations. In a short time, this organization sent out missionaries to China, India, South America, Africa and the Middle East which is birthplace of Christianity. American Board started its activities at the Ottoman Empire's land in the early 1820s. The first members of the American Board sent to the Ottoman Empire are Pliny Fisk and Levi Parsons. After the first examinations missionaries understood that they couldn't have effect on Muslims so they intensified their activities on the Christian minority living in the Ottoman lands. American Board Organization especially emphasized on Greeks, Armenians and Bulgarians about their missionary activities. In the scope of missionary activities of the American Board Organization inside the Ottoman State, continuously new churches and schools were opened, new hospitals and dispensaries were established, the Protestantism were spread and new trading establishments were organized to support the people that chose Protestantism. In the scope of these activities the nations of the Ottoman Empire had been revolted against the state by using the nationalism feeling of the people. One of these revolts was 1892-1893 Merzifon Armenian revolt.