The Arab Spring Notes Key
1. The Arab Spring is a term used to describe a series of demonstration and revolutions that rocked the
Arab world beginning in December, 2010.
2. The underlying causes were:

discontent with corrupt, dictatorial leaders

widespread poverty and unemployment

the lack of opportunity, particularly for young educated Arabs

rising food prices
3. The protests were sparked by the self-immolation (burning oneself alive) of a Tunisian street vender.
4. Generally, the initial protesters were the urban, educated, secular youth, but fundamentalist Muslims
later joined the protests.
5. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube were widely used by protesters to organize and publicize their
efforts.
6. In Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen the protests led to the resignations of rulers who had held power for
decades.
7. In Libya, protests grew into a full-scale armed rebellion. With the help of US and international air
support, the rebels toppled and killed Muammar Gaddafi, their longtime dictator.
8. In Bahrain, the protests were violently quashed with the help of the Saudi military.
9. In Syria, protests developed into a civil war. Tens of thousands have been killed and hundreds of
thousands have become refugees.
10. Elections in Tunisia and Egypt put Islamic political parties in power. Religious minorities and
secular Muslims are wary of their new leaders.
11. The unrest has caused major economic problems as daily life has been disrupted, foreign investment
has slowed and tourism has ended.
The Arab Spring Notes
1. The Arab Spring is a term used to describe a series of _________________________ and
_______________________ that rocked the Arab world beginning in _____________________.
2. The underlying causes were:
a. discontent with _____________________________________________
b. widespread ________________________________________________
c. the _____________________________________, particularly for
____________________________________
d. _________________________________________
3. The protests were sparked by the ________________________________ (burning oneself alive) of
a ______________________________________.
4. Generally, the initial protesters were the ____________________________________________, but
_________________________________________ later joined the protests.
5. ____________________________________________________ were widely used by protesters to
_________________________________________ their efforts.
6. In ____________________________________________________, the protests led to the
____________________ of rulers who had held power for _____________________.
7. In _____________________, protests grew into a full-scale armed _______________________.
With the help of _______________________________________________, the rebels toppled and
killed ____________________________________, their longtime dictator.
8. In _____________________, the protests were ______________________________________ with
the help of the ______________ military.
9. In ____________, protests developed into a _________________. __________ of thousands have
been killed and _______________ of thousands have become refugees.
10. Elections in ____________________________ put ________________ political parties in power.
Religious ___________________ and ________________ Muslims are wary of their new leaders.
11. The unrest has caused major _________________ problems as ___________________ has been
disrupted, ________________________ has slowed and _______________________ has ended.