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.
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