romikgosai/squad_modified huggingface dataset:
In 1838 the situation was slightly the same as in 1831. Muhammad Ali of Egypt was not happy about lack of his control and power in Syria, he resumed military actions. The Ottoman army lost to Egyptians at the Battle of Nezib on June 24, 1839. The Ottoman Empire was saved by Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia by signing a convention in London in July 15, 1840 to grant Muhammad Ali and his descendants the right to inherit power in Egypt in exchange for removal of Egyptian military forces from Syria and Lebanon. Moreover, Muhammad Ali had to admit a formal dependence from the Ottoman sultan. After Muhammad Ali refused to obey the requirements of the London convention, the allied Anglo-Austrian fleet blocked the Delta, bombarded Beirut and captured Acre. Muhammad Ali accepted the conditions of the London convention in 1840.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In 1838, who was not pleased of their lack of power in Syria?
A: Muhammad Ali of Egypt', '
Q: Who did the Ottomans lose to at the Battle of Nezib?
A: Egyptians', '
Q: In what year did the Battle of Nezib take place?
A: 1839', '
Q: Who helped save the Ottomans by signing a convention in London? 
A: Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia', '
Q: In what year did Muhammad Ali  finally accept the terms of the London convention?
A: 1840']
Russia, as a member of the Holy Alliance, had operated as the "police of Europe", maintaining the balance of power that had been established in the Treaty of Vienna in 1815. Russia had assisted Austria's efforts in suppressing the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and expected gratitude; it wanted a free hand in settling its problems with the Ottoman Empire — the "sick man of Europe". The United Kingdom could not tolerate Russian dominance of Ottoman affairs, as that would challenge the British domination of the eastern Mediterranean.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who operated as the "police of Europe"?
A: Russia', '
Q: What treaty was signing in 1815?
A: Treaty of Vienna', '
Q: In what year did the Hungarian Revolution take place?
A: 1848', '
Q: Who did Russia help during the Hungarian Revolution?
A: Austria', '
Q: In exchange for helping Austria, Russia wanted to be freely able to handle any issues they had with who?
A: Ottoman Empire']
For over 200 years, Russia had been expanding southwards across the sparsely populated "Wild Fields" toward the warm water ports of the Black Sea that did not freeze over like the handful of other ports available in the north. The goal was to promote year-round trade and a year-round navy.:11 Pursuit of this goal brought the emerging Russian state into conflict with the Ukrainian Cossacks and then with the Tatars of the Crimean Khanate and Circassians. When Russia conquered these groups and gained possession of southern Ukraine, known as New Russia during Russian imperial times, the Ottoman Empire lost its buffer zone against Russian expansion, and Russia and the Ottoman Empire fell into direct conflict. The conflict with the Ottoman Empire also presented a religious issue of importance, as Russia saw itself as the protector of Orthodox Christians, many of whom lived under Ottoman control and were treated as second-class citizens.(ch 1)

Questions and answers:
['
Q: For 200 years, Russia been expanding across what area?
A: Wild Fields', '
Q: Why did Russia move towards the warmer ports of the Black Sea?
A: to promote year-round trade and a year-round navy', '
Q: Who did Russia first have issues with when moving towards the warmer ports in the Black Sea?
A: Ukrainian Cossacks', '
Q: Who was treated as second class citizens under the Ottomans?
A: Orthodox Christians', '
Q: During the Russian imperial times, what other name was southern Ukraine known by?
A: New Russia']
It is often said that Russia was militarily weak, technologically backward, and administratively incompetent. Despite its grand ambitions toward the south, it had not built its railroad network in that direction, and communications were poor. The bureaucracy was riddled with graft, corruption and inefficiency and was unprepared for war. Its navy was weak and technologically backward; its army, although very large, was good only for parades, suffered from colonels who pocketed their men's pay, poor morale, and was out of touch with the latest technology developed by Britain and France. By the war's end, everyone realized the profound weaknesses of the Russian military, and the Russian leadership was determined to reform it.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What did Russia fail to build south?
A: railroad network', '
Q: What did some feel the Russian army was only good for?
A: parades', "
Q: What did Russian colonels due to the men who served under them?
A: pocketed their men's pay"]
The immediate chain of events leading to France and the United Kingdom declaring war on Russia on 27 and 28 March 1854 came from the ambition of the French emperor Napoleon III to restore the grandeur of France. He wanted Catholic support that would come his way if he attacked Eastern Orthodoxy, as sponsored by Russia.:103 The Marquis Charles de La Valette was a zealous Catholic and a leading member of the "clerical party," which demanded French protection of the Roman Catholic rights to the holy places in Palestine. In May 1851, Napoleon appointed La Valette as his ambassador to the Porte (the Ottoman Empire).:7–9 The appointment was made with the intent of forcing the Ottomans to recognise France as the "sovereign authority" over the Christian population.:19 Russia disputed this attempted change in authority. Pointing to two more treaties, one in 1757 and the 1774 Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, the Ottomans reversed their earlier decision, renouncing the French treaty and insisting that Russia was the protector of the Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In what year did France and the U.K declare war on Russia?
A: 1854', '
Q: What individual was responsible for France and the U.K declaring war on Russia?
A: Napoleon III', '
Q: Who demanded protection for Roman Catholic rights in sacred places in Palestine?
A: Charles de La Valette', '
Q: Charles de La Valette was a devoted and leading member of what party?
A: clerical party', '
Q: What position did Napoleon III appoint to La Valette?
A: ambassador to the Porte']
Napoleon III responded with a show of force, sending the ship of the line Charlemagne to the Black Sea. This action was a violation of the London Straits Convention.:104:19 Thus, France's show of force presented a real threat, and when combined with aggressive diplomacy and money, induced the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I to accept a new treaty, confirming France and the Roman Catholic Church as the supreme Christian authority with control over the Roman Catholic holy places and possession of the keys to the Church of the Nativity, previously held by the Greek Orthodox Church.:20

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What was the name of the ship that Napoleon sent to the Black Sea?
A: Charlemagne', '
Q: Sending a ship to the Black Sea violated the terms made during what agreement?
A: London Straits Convention', "
Q: Who felt threaten by France's force and ended up signing a new treaty?
A: Sultan Abdülmecid I", '
Q: Who previously held the keys to the Church of the Nativity?
A: Greek Orthodox Church', '
Q: Who held authority over Roman Catholic holy places after Sultan Abdülmecid I agreed to the new treaty?
A: France and the Roman Catholic Church']
Nicholas began courting Britain by means of conversations with the British ambassador, George Hamilton Seymour, in January and February 1853.:105 Nicholas insisted that he no longer wished to expand Imperial Russia:105 but that he had an obligation to the Christian communities in the Ottoman Empire.:105  The Tsar next dispatched a highly abrasive diplomat, Prince Menshikov, on a special mission to the Ottoman Sublime Porte in February 1853. By previous treaties, the sultan was committed "to protect the (Eastern Orthodox) Christian religion and its churches." Menshikov demanded a Russian protectorate over all 12 million Orthodox Christians in the Empire, with control of the Orthodox Church's hierarchy. A compromise was reached regarding Orthodox access to the Holy Land, but the Sultan, strongly supported by the British ambassador, rejected the more sweeping demands.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who was the British ambassador in 1853?
A: George Hamilton Seymour', '
Q: Who declared they no longer wanted to spread Imperial Russian?
A: Nicholas', '
Q: Who did the Tsar send on a mission to Ottoman Sublime Porte?
A: Prince Menshikov', '
Q: In what year was Prince Menshikov sent to the Ottoman Sublime Porte?
A: 1853', '
Q: Who wanted to ruled over the 12 million Orthodox Christians in the Empire?
A: Menshikov']
In February 1853, the British government of Lord Aberdeen, the prime minister, re-appointed Stratford Canning as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.:110 Having resigned the ambassadorship in January, he had been replaced by Colonel Rose as chargé d'affaires. Lord Stratford then turned around and sailed back to Constantinople, arriving there on 5 April 1853. There he convinced the Sultan to reject the Russian treaty proposal, as compromising the independence of the Turks. The Leader of the Opposition in the British House of Commons, Benjamin Disraeli, blamed Aberdeen and Stratford's actions for making war inevitable, thus starting the process which would eventually force the Aberdeen government to resign in January 1855, over the war.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who was the Prime Minister of the British Government in 1853?
A: Lord Aberdeen', '
Q: Who did Aberdeen appoint the position of British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire to?
A: Stratford Canning', '
Q: Who replaced Stratford Canning after he first resigned as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire ?
A: Colonel Rose', '
Q: After resigning where did Stratford Canning sail off to?
A: Constantinople', '
Q: Who did Stratford Canning convince to turn down the treaty proposal?
A: Sultan']
Shortly after he learned of the failure of Menshikov's diplomacy toward the end of June 1853, the Tsar sent armies under the commands of Field Marshal Ivan Paskevich and General Mikhail Gorchakov across the Pruth River into the Ottoman-controlled Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Fewer than half of the 80,000 Russian soldiers who crossed the Pruth in 1853 survived. By far, most of the deaths would result from sickness rather than combat,:118–119 for the Russian army still suffered from medical services that ranged from bad to none.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who sent armies across the Pruth River?
A: the Tsar', '
Q: Who commanded the armies across the Pruth River?
A: Field Marshal Ivan Paskevich and General Mikhail Gorchakov', '
Q: Who was in control of the Danubian Principalities?
A: Ottoman', '
Q: In what year did Russian soldiers cross the Pruth River?
A: 1853', '
Q: How did most Russians die when crossing the Pruth River?
A: sickness']
Russia had previously obtained recognition from the Ottoman Empire of the Tsar's role as special guardian of the Orthodox Christians in Moldavia and Wallachia. Now Russia used the Sultan's failure to resolve the issue of the protection of the Christian sites in the Holy Land as a pretext for Russian occupation of these Danubian provinces. Nicholas believed that the European powers, especially Austria, would not object strongly to the annexation of a few neighbouring Ottoman provinces, especially considering that Russia had assisted Austria's efforts in suppressing the Hungarian Revolution in 1849.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who was given the special role of guardian over the Orthodox Christians in Moldavia and Wallachia?
A: Russia', "
Q: Who recognized and gave Russia the special guardian role?
A: Ottoman Empire of the Tsar's", '
Q: Who felt Europe would not object to the joining of neighboring Ottoman provinces?
A: Nicholas']
The European powers continued to pursue diplomatic avenues. The representatives of the four neutral Great Powers—the United Kingdom, France, Austria and Prussia—met in Vienna, where they drafted a note that they hoped would be acceptable to both the Russians and the Ottomans. The peace terms arrived at by the four powers at the Vienna Conference were delivered to the Russians by the Austrian Foreign Minister Count Karl von Buol on 5 December 1853. The note met with the approval of Nicholas I; however, Abdülmecid I rejected the proposal, feeling that the document's poor phrasing left it open to many different interpretations. The United Kingdom, France, and Austria united in proposing amendments to mollify the Sultan, but the court of St. Petersburg ignored their suggestions.:143 The UK and France then set aside the idea of continuing negotiations, but Austria and Prussia did not believe that the rejection of the proposed amendments justified the abandonment of the diplomatic process.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What European powers met in Vienna for a conference?
A: United Kingdom, France, Austria and Prussia', '
Q: Who delivered the peace terms of the Vienna Conference to the Russians?
A: Count Karl von Buol', '
Q: In what year did Count Karl von Buol deliver the Vienna Conference news to the Russians?
A: 1853', '
Q: Who rejected the proposal due to poor word phrasing?
A: Abdülmecid I', '
Q: Who approved the proposal given by Count Karl von Buol ?
A: Nicholas I']
The Russians sent a fleet to Sinop in northern Anatolia. In the Battle of Sinop on 30 November 1853 they destroyed a patrol squadron of Ottoman frigates and corvettes while they were anchored in port. Public opinion in the UK and France was outraged and demanded war. Sinop provided the United Kingdom and France with the casus belli ("cause for war") for declaring war against Russia. On 28 March 1854, after Russia ignored an Anglo-French ultimatum to withdraw from the Danubian Principalities, the UK and France formally declared war.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What battle took place on November 30, 1853?
A: Battle of Sinop', '
Q: What did the Russian send to Sinop?
A: a fleet', '
Q: While anchored in the port, what did the Russians destroy?
A: a patrol squadron of Ottoman frigates and corvettes', '
Q: What did Battle of Sinop provide for France and the U.K?
A: cause for war', '
Q: When did the Russia disregard the ultimatum to leave the Danubian Principalities?
A: 28 March 1854']
Britain was concerned about Russian activity and Sir John Burgoyne senior advisor to Lord Aberdeen urged that the Dardanelles should be occupied and throw up works of sufficient strength to block any Russian move to capture Constantinople and gain access to the Mediterranean Sea. The Corps of Royal Engineers sent men to the Dardanelles while Burgoyne went to Paris, meeting the British Ambassador and the French Emperor. The Lord Cowley wrote on 8 February to Burgoyne "Your visit to Paris has produced a visible change in the Emperor's views, and he is making every preparation for a land expedition in case the last attempt at negotiation should break down.":411

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who was concerned with Russia  capturing Constantinople?
A: Britain', '
Q: Who sent men to the Dardanelles?
A: The Corps of Royal Engineers', '
Q: As men were sent to the Dardanelles, where did Burgoyne go?
A: Paris', '
Q: Who was Burgoyne visiting in Paris?
A: British Ambassador and the French Emperor', '
Q: Who wrote to Burgoyne on February 8th?
A: Lord Cowley']
Nicholas felt that, because of Russian assistance in suppressing the Hungarian revolution of 1848, Austria would side with him, or at the very least remain neutral. Austria, however, felt threatened by the Russian troops in the Balkans. On 27 February 1854, the United Kingdom and France demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from the principalities; Austria supported them and, though it did not declare war on Russia, it refused to guarantee its neutrality. Russia's rejection of the ultimatum caused the UK and France to enter the war.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In what year did the Hungarian revolution take place?
A: 1848', '
Q: Who felt Austria would side with him due to the Hungarian revolution outcome?
A: Nicholas', '
Q: Who did Austria feel threatened by?
A: Russian troops in the Balkans', '
Q: Who wanted the Russian forces to leave the principalities?
A: the United Kingdom and France', "
Q: Why did the U.K and France get involved with the war against the Russia?
A: Russia's rejection of the ultimatum"]
Following the Ottoman ultimatum in September 1853, forces under the Ottoman general Omar Pasha crossed the Danube at Vidin and captured Calafat in October 1853. Simultaneously, in the east, the Ottomans crossed the Danube at Silistra and attacked the Russians at Oltenița. The resulting Battle of Oltenița was the first engagement following the declaration of war. The Russians counterattacked, but were beaten back. On 31 December 1853, the Ottoman forces at Calafat moved against the Russian force at Chetatea or Cetate, a small village nine miles north of Calafat, and engaged them on 6 January 1854. The battle began when the Russians made a move to recapture Calafat. Most of the heavy fighting, however, took place in and around Chetatea until the Russians were driven out of the village. Despite the setback at Chetatea, on 28 January 1854, Russian forces laid siege to Calafat. The siege would continue until May 1854 when the Russians lifted the siege. The Ottomans would also later beat the Russians in battle at Caracal.:130–43

Questions and answers:
['
Q: The Ottoman ultimatum took place in what year?
A: 1853', '
Q: What general crossed across the Danube at Vidin?
A: Omar Pasha', '
Q: After crossing the Danube at Vidin, what city did General Omar Pasha take control over?
A: Calafat', '
Q: After crossing the Danube at Silistra, in what city did the Ottomans attack the Russians?
A: Oltenița', '
Q: What is the name of the village 9 miles north of Calafat where the Ottoman forces attacked the Russians?
A: Chetatea or Cetate']
In the spring of 1854 the Russians again advanced, crossing the Danube River into the Turkish province of Dobruja. By April 1854, the Russians had reached the lines of Trajan's Wall where they were finally halted. In the center, the Russian forces crossed the Danube and laid siege to Silistra from 14 April with 60,000 troops, the defenders with 15,000 had supplies for three months.:415 The siege was lifted on 23 June 1854. The English and French forces at this time were unable to take the field for lack of equipment.:415

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who advanced on Dobruja in the spring of 1854?
A: the Russians', '
Q: What river did the Russians cross to get to Dobruja?
A: Danube River', '
Q: How man troops did the Russians have when they attacked Silistra ?
A: 60,000 troops', '
Q: When did the siege of Silistra end?
A: 23 June 1854', "
Q: Why couldn't the French and English take control of the field?
A: lack of equipment"]
In the west, the Russians were dissuaded from attacking Vidin by the presence of the Austrian forces, which had swelled to 280,000 men. On 28 May 1854 a protocol of the Vienna Conference was signed by Austria and Russia. One of the aims of the Russian advance had been to encourage the Orthodox Christian Serbs and Bulgarians living under Ottoman rule to rebel. However, when the Russian troops actually crossed the River Pruth into Moldavia, the Orthodox Christians still showed no interest in rising up against the Turks.:131, 137 Adding to the worries of Nicholas I was the concern that Austria would enter the war against the Russians and attack his armies on the western flank. Indeed, after attempting to mediate a peaceful settlement between Russia and Turkey, the Austrians entered the war on the side of Turkey with an attack against the Russians in the Principalities which threatened to cut off the Russian supply lines. Accordingly, the Russians were forced to raise the siege of Silistra on 23 June 1854, and begin abandoning the Principalities.:185 The lifting of the siege reduced the threat of a Russian advance into Bulgaria.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who stopped the Russians from attacking Vidin?
A: Austrian forces', '
Q: How man men did the Austrian forces have when stopping the attack on Vidin?
A: 280,000', '
Q: What river did the Russians crossed when they entered the city of Moldavia?
A: River Pruth', "
Q: Who didn't show any signs of rising up against the Turks?
A: Orthodox Christians", '
Q: After the settlement between Russia and Turkey, who did the Austrians decide to join?
A: Turkey']
In June 1854, the Allied expeditionary force landed at Varna, a city on the Black Sea's western coast (now in Bulgaria). They made little advance from their base there.:175–176 In July 1854, the Turks under Omar Pasha crossed the Danube into Wallachia and on 7 July 1854, engaged the Russians in the city of Giurgiu and conquered it. The capture of Giurgiu by the Turks immediately threatened Bucharest in Wallachia with capture by the same Turk army. On 26 July 1854, Tsar Nicholas I ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Principalities. Also, in late July 1854, following up on the Russian retreat, the French staged an expedition against the Russian forces still in Dobruja, but this was a failure.:188–190

Questions and answers:
['
Q: The city of Varna is located on what coast of the Black Sea?
A: western coast', '
Q: Who lead the Turks when crossing the Danube into Wallachia ?
A: Omar Pasha', '
Q: In what year did the Turks cross the Danube into Wallachia ?
A: 1854', '
Q: In what city did Omar Pasha attack the Russians after crossing the Danube into Wallachia ?
A: Giurgiu', '
Q: The ordered the Russian troops to leave the Principalities?
A: Tsar Nicholas I']
During this period, the Russian Black Sea Fleet was operating against Ottoman coastal traffic between Constantinople (currently named Istanbul) and the Caucasus ports, while the Ottoman fleet sought to protect this supply line. The clash came on 30 November 1853 when a Russian fleet attacked an Ottoman force in the harbour at Sinop, and destroyed it at the Battle of Sinop. The battle outraged opinion in UK, which called for war. There was little additional naval action until March 1854 when on the declaration of war the British frigate Furious was fired on outside Odessa harbour. In response an Anglo-French fleet bombarded the port, causing much damage to the town. To show support for Turkey after the battle of Sinop, on the 22th of December 1853, the Anglo-French squadron entered the Black Sea and the steamship HMS Retribution approached the Port of Sevastopol, the commander of which received an ultimatum not to allow any ships in the Black Sea.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: At what harbor did a Russian fleet attacked a Ottoman force?
A: harbour at Sinop', '
Q: What was the name of the ship that was attacked outside of the Odessa harbor?
A: Furious', '
Q: Who attacked the port after the attack outside of Odessa harbor?
A: an Anglo-French fleet', '
Q: After the battle of Sinop, what steamship approached the Port of Sevastopol to show support for Turkey?
A: HMS Retribution']