Instructions
For this assignment, I want to bring out your creative side. you will create a PowerPoint or a Prezi. In this assignment, you will become a Modern Day Revolutionary for a country of your choice.
Please read the directions carefully.
The objectives of this assignment is to evaluate sources dealing with events or topics of the modern world to use in your assignment. You will assess 21st Century world events and link them to the past – historically, culturally, economically and politically.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most powerful documents in American History. It is a list of grievances levied against the King of England, who the colonists believed abused his power. Staying true to the ideology that came out of the Enlightenment period, Thomas Jefferson and his cohorts created this list and then declared their independence.
You are going to create something similar to the Declaration of Independence using the country you chose in Week 1/2.
Please make sure you read through the Declaration of Independence. While it is one of our most revered documents, it will be a guide for you on this assignment. A link and document are provided for you.
Directions.
You are to research problems with the country you chose. You are tasked with writing a Declaration of Independence listing those problems. However, this assignment goes one step further, you will offer up a solution to that problem.
Read as many articles as you can, these articles will give you insight on what is going on in the country you chose. Make sure you get articles from reliable sources.
All information has to be factual and current. The assignment will be done in a PowerPoint presentation or a Prezi. You can make it interesting by adding some voice or music, the choice is yours.
MAIN (General) REQUIREMENTS
The minimum number of sources and citations for your presentation is three (3) sources. Any material that is not common knowledge has to be cited or any information that is taken directly from the site has to be cited and in quotations marks.
There is a word count for the entire presentation is 600-900 words. Anything less will not justify your research.
You need visuals in your presentation – a third (1/3) of your presentation is to have visuals. –
Do not use background visuals, it's hard to read the text and will not count as visuals.
The PowerPoint and Prezi must include a cover slide with your name, course number and title (HIST112 – World Civilization Since 1650) and date. You are to have a separate slide for your references.
The rest of the directions are below.
This is what you should follow for your presentation,
Slide 1 is the title of your Declaration, the class name, your name, my name and the date.
Slide 2 is an introduction of your Declaration explaining to me which country you choose and why.
Slide 3 you are to create your opening passages. This is equivalent to the first paragraph in the Declaration. The only passage you are allowed to use from the Declaration of Independence word for word is "When in course of human events", the rest is in your own words.
Slides 4, 5, 6 and 7 (or more) – You are then to come up with minimum of 9 grievances and the solutions to those grievances. 1-2 on each slide. Please take into account images and your writing/solutions.
Keep in mind, when you are talking about modern day governments, you NEED to take into account the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. We are talking about Present Day not yesteryear.
Slide 8 is your closing paragraph.
DO NOT FORGET VISUALS.
Slide 9 is your Bibliography Slide formatted correctly – Minimum of 3 Sources.
Please view the example attached as your guidance.
Syria's Declaration of Freedom
HIST 112– World History from 1650
STUDENT NAME
Rhodes-Swartz, Linda
August 12, 2012
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Preamble
As a ancient country, we, the people of Syria, can trace our heritage throughout the development of the Middle East. We are a great people, a modern people, with our location providing a microcosm of the various Middle Eastern ethnicities and religions. Given our prominence in both history and the international news as of late, we are disgraced by the horrid actions of our leader Bashar Al-Assad in response to our peaceful protests.
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Declaration of Freedom
“When in the course of human events”[a] it becomes necessary to address certain injustices by an unresponsive ruler, we, the people, are forced to them responsible for their actions by actively seeking to dissolve our common ties. Therefore, because of the grievances listed below, we are compelled to give birth to a new form of government, one more responsive to the God-given natural rights of its people…
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a. Jefferson, Thomas, “Declaration of Independence”, 1776, The Charters of Freedom, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html.
Grievances
1. Lack of freedom of assembly and
protest
2. Freedom from government harassment
3. Freedom from fear of one's life
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When the people of Syria started protesting in March 2011, the government of Bashar al-Assad did not take it lightly, sending in tanks and the military to quell the protesting. As of April 2012, the United Nations put the death toll at least “9,000 people.” [1]
In addition, protesters are often arrested and placed in harsh conditions. For example, Riad al Turk, who frequently protested against the Syrian government and hailed as a Middle Eastern “Nelson Mandela” [2], was “held in a cell the size of an elevator with no window and no toilet for 18 years” [2] and when finally released, was arrested again for…. protesting the regime.
Furthermore, opposition members fear “retaliation” [3] from government forces, the United Nations charge “systematic… attacks on civilians” [4] by the government, and refugees trying to flee from the fighting have been targeted for “intimidat[ion],… poison[ing]…[and outright] shooting” [5], all outside of Syria.
Grievances (continued)
4. Lack of authentic representation
5. Lack of economic opportunity
6. Lack of governmental transparency and integrity
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Moreover, al-Assad's government is made up of “Ba'athists” and “Alawis” [3], who are followers of a form of Shiite Islam, while the “majority of disenchanted citizens – is Sunni.” [3] Beyond this fact, Syria's government's power is “concentrated in the ruling family” [6] and “the one-party system” [6] left little room for political dissent.
Government and rebel fighting has caused thousands to flee their homelands and into tents [5]. Furthermore, severe drought in 2008 sent farmers into the city [6], disgusted by lack of government help and by the “nouveau riche” [6]. Socialism in Syria has also favored “families with ties with Assad” [6]. Beyond this, the nation's rising youth population have to compete in a “bloated, unproductive public sector” [6], leading to high unemployment.
With the power “concentrated in the ruling family”[6] and jobs and other perks going to “families with ties with Assad” [6], how can it not be defined as corrupt? In addition, if the government has nothing to hide, why hasn't it allowed “humanitarian access to the areas affected by the unrest” [4] and facilitate an United Nations Human Rights Commission fact-finding mission? [4]
Grievances (continued)
7. Lack of rights for religious and
ethnic minorities
8. Lack of an independent press
9. Lack of freedom to hope
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Minorities of any persuasion do not fair well in Syria. The Kurds, for example, have suffered “discrimination” [7] and “loss of culture” [7] under the ruling Ba'athists since the 1960's [7]. Additionally, many “were granted citizenship” [7] only last year after the the uprising started.
Additionally, if one wants to hear about anything objectively, one would be wise not to listen to the “state media” [8]. Beyond skewing facts in favor of the government or totally ignoring embarrassing issues altogether, currently the administration has targeted or attempted to kill anti-regime journalists [8]. Furthermore, Al-Assad and his government has restricted or banned international journalists from Syria [9], thereby forcing international media groups not to be able to present a factual account of the fighting. Opposition groups routinely share information outside of the country on social media sites like Facebook to avoid “censor[ship] by Assad's cronies” [3].
Lastly, the unresponsiveness by the government of Syria to the demands of its people has led to the loss of hope. One rebel is fighting because “[Assad] has killed everyone” [9], “has destroyed my village… my home” [9]. A bureaucrat was disenchanted when instead of democracy, he received instead computers and cars [9]. Refugees lose heart because of their new-found living conditions and grow bitter.
Declaration of Freedom
“We, therefore, the representatives”[b] of the Republic of Syria thereby set forth that our ties shall be dissolved to the Al-Assad government and the governed are released from all allegiances henceforth. As an independent people, we shall be once more be free to conduct the people's business as we see fit, procuring for the Republic of Syria all the rights and responsibilities of a free people.
–Yousef al-Taylor
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b. Jefferson, Thomas, “Declaration of Independence”, 1776, The Charters of Freedom, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html.
Bibliography
1. “Unrest Continues in Syria”, Voice of America, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.voanews.com/content/unrest-continues-in-syria–148381405/180619.html.
2. “Robin Wright Hopeful About the Middle East”, Occidental College Press Release, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.oxy.edu/news/robin-wright-hopeful-about-middle-east.
3. Choksy, Carol and Jamsheed K. Choksy, “Opposition in Syria: A Stragic Analysis”, Small Wars Journal, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/the-syrian-opposition-a-strategic-analysis.
4. United Nations, “Syria: UN advisers warn that crimes against humanity may have been committed”, UN News Centre, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39128&Cr=syria&Cr1=.
5. Mroue, Bassem and Dale Gavlak, “Syrian Refugee Camps Swell as Frustrations Rise” US News and World Report, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2012/08/08/syrian-refugees-find-new-dangers-in-jordanian-camp.
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Bibliography (continued)
6. Manfreda, Primoz, “Syrian Uprising”, About.com, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://middleeast.about.com/od/syria/tp/Syrian-Uprising.htm.
7. “Kurds take control in Syria's northeast”, Al Jazerra, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2012/08/2012812155148623460.html.
8. “Syria steps up attacks on rebel-held areas”, Al Jazerra, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/20128128921123314.html.
9. Watson, Ivan and Raja Razek, “Syria's uprising: From rocks to RPGs”, CNN, accessed on August 12, 2012, retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/world/meast/syria-watson-aleppo/index.html.
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