Learning About Syria
Fill in the blanks based on the information in the PowerPoint
The Basic Facts:

Syria is a country bordering the Mediterranean Sea and is considered part of the __________
East.

Syria’s climate is mostly _______________ and their economy is founded on: ____________,
____________, ____________, and ____________.

Syria is roughly the size of the state of Missouri and is home to over _____ million people.

In Syria, the majority of the people speak ____________. The official name of the country is the
____________________.

Syria has many historic ____________. Many of the country’s beautiful cities are centuries old.
The Recent History:

Since 2000, Syria has been ruled by President Bashar al-_____________.

His rule has been ______________________, meaning governed by one person, without any
democracy.

Since 2011, the Syrian people have protested against him, demanding their basic
__________________ rights.

Their revolt has been part of a movement for freedom in the Middle East known as the
____________ Spring.

The Arab Spring is a __________ movement, meaning that it stretches across the Arab countries
of the Middle East. The Arab Spring started in the country of ____________. Soon afterwards,
other Arab countries also rebelled against autocratic leaders, demanding ____________ and a
better standard of living.
The Rebellion

The revolt in Syria was started by __________________ who wrote anti-government graffiti on the
walls of their city.

Assad’s forces struck back, attempting to _______________ the rebellion with brutal force.

It didn’t work.

Over ____________ Syrians have been killed in the past two years, in what became a fierce
_______________ between the opposition and the government.

Over 590,000 people have been forced to flee to ____________ camps in neighboring countries.
The World’s Reaction

The _______________ is based in New York City. This organization includes ____________ from
countries all over the world who work together to keep peace around the globe. Their role is to
promote and protect human rights.

The U.S. and other countries have tried to work within the United Nations to find a ____________
solution in Syria.

But ____________, ______________, and _____________ have stood by the Assad regime.
They’ve blocked the U.N. from taking strong action.

Right now it is unclear how long Assad will remain in power. The __________________ says he
must go.

The U.N. has implemented ____________ on Syria—economic ____________that target Assad’s
bank account.
Why Syria Matters

The Syrian uprising started as a push for freedom and democracy—values we share. The United
States has its own history fighting ________________ in the American Revolution.

History has also shown that _____________________ often spreads to other countries if it is not
stopped.

We exist as one _________________ global community. What affects one person often affects us
all.