Syria_aas

__** Syria **__

Part 1: A Look at the Nation
__**Demographics:**__ = = > == > Flag of Syria __Religion:__ __Geography:__
 * 22.5 million people live in Syria
 * Population grows annually by .9%
 * Average age is 21
 * More males than females
 * Most people are Arab
 * Arabic is the official language of Syria
 * 74% of people in Syria are Sunni Muslims
 * 16% of people in Syria are Alawites, Shi'i, and other
 * 10% of people in Syria are Christians
 * About the size of Florida
 * Summers are hot and dry
 * Average temperature in the desert is 100 F
 * Average temperature near the coast is 90F
 * Winters are mild and rainy
 * Average temperature is 59 F

__Economic Resources:__ __Political Structures:__
 * Depends heavily on agriculture
 * Exports cotton, fruits, vegetable, wheat, chicken, petroleum, and textiles
 * 20% of people in Syria have agricultural jobs
 * Republic
 * President is chief of state and has strong executive powers
 * Current president is Bashar al-Assad
 * Prime Minister is head of government and leads the Council of Ministers
 * Current prime minister is Adil Safr
 * Laws are based in Islamic law
 * Voting age is 18

Part 2: History
2000- President Bashar al-Assad voted into office right after his father/previous president's death 2007- President Bashar al-Assad re-voted into office 2008- End of West's diplomatic isolation of Syria, Syria became neutral with the United States 2011 January 26- Current uprising started 2012 April 12- U.N. set cease fire on Syria

**Part 3: Legitimacy of Current Leader**
The current leader of Syria was not a legitimate ruler. Here's the ranking of each purpose of government that is being expressed from least to greatest.


 * 1) Economic decisions- Syria faces economic problems like, failing or wasting time on economic planning, declining rates of oil production, and high rates of unemployment
 * 2) Individual rights- Protesters were being killed and the president did not care about the opinion of people had toward a change in the government. He wouldn't budge.
 * 3) Maintain order- Most of the citizens being killed are the ones supporting the government, not the protesters
 * 4) National Defense- The military did not show up until nine months after the crisis, and when they did it was for security solutions that benefited only the president
 * 5) Public services- Education is available at schools

Part 4: Snapshot of the Current Uprising
Who revolted? Anti-government protesters who did not like the economic decisions of the president.

Why did they revolt? People revolted against President Bashar al-Assad because he has been in power for too long and had not done anything to help. He made laws that took away people's privacy. For example, he made a law requiring internet cafes to track down what customers did.

How did they organize? They all agreed that the way the president was ruling wasn't right so they went out into the streets and protesting, that's when others saw them and joined and that's how the whole country got involved.

How did the people overthrow the government? They are still revolting against the government.

How did the government respond? The government sent pro-government police and military to invade demonstrations and arrest people. Thousands of people have died from being military attacks.

How was the government the same or different following the revolution? The revolution is still going on.