1. Tunisia The first to start a revolution Abby Ackerman P. 2

2. Tunisia

3. Backstory Frustration in Tunisian citizens had been mounting for years The straw that broke the camel’s back: The martyrdom of a fruit vendor, following an incident with a policewoman Known as the “Jasmine Revolution” of “Facebook Revolution” The first in a string of civil uprisings to shake North Africa

4. The Antagonist “President” Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in power since 1987 Widely unpopular; however protests were not known world wide due to cover-ups Protests finally reached him personally 1/14/11 Fled that day to Saudi Arabia Has been charged in absentia to 30 years in prison

5. The Protagonists Tunisian citizens, especially youths, broadcast the revolution as it was happening across a wide range of social media Aided by the Muslim Brotherhood Aimed to set up an actual democracy, not a dictator in a president’s clothing

6. How It All Went Down Citizens were frustrated. Some where downright mad. Some threw rocks. Civil uprisings soon followed. Hundreds took part in anti-Ben Ali protests Islamists flocked to the streets to protest freely; long shut out under Ben Ali’s regime

7. The Domino Effect News of the revolution in Tunisia spread quickly throughout North Africa Countries such as Algeria, Egypt, and Libya soon followed with their own protests and political uprisings

8. And So He Ran Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled his country on January 14 th, hours after promising “change” The upheaval caused many of the political officials to resign Military briefly stepped in to help facilitate change Tunisia set up a new democracy

9. So Now What? Tunisia recently held their first democratic election post-revolution Mixed feelings remain about the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in the new democracy (Especially in foreign relations) Tunisia’s successful revolution is still inspiring other Arab countries fighting for theirs “People of Tunisia are voting freely for the first time. This blue finger is the proof that I voted. So happy, so proud.” (From Imgur.com)

10. Arab Spring vs. American Revolution Both successful in their revolutions Both had been frustrated with oppressive regimes for a while Tunisia had more widespread public support, despite most of the broadcast across social media being done by a sold core of activists America did not have facebook back then, and tweets only came from birds

11. Sources http://imgur.com/gallery/FFdIW Tony Karon. “Tunisia’s Revolt: A Dilemma for the U.S in the Arab World”. Time. 18 Jan 2011. 25 Oct 2011. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042936,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042936,00.html Vivienne Walt. “Tunisia’s Nervous Neighbors Watch the Jasmine Revolution”. Time. 31 Jan 2011. 26 Oct 2011. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043433- 3,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043433- 3,00.html Yasmine Ryan. “How Tunisia’s Revolution Began”. Al Jazeera English. 26 Jan 2011. 25 October 2011. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/01/2011126121815985483.html