In 1918 Sheriff Hussein allied with the British against the Ottoman, in what was known as the Great Arab Revolution. With the help of the allied the Arabic army captured Damascus in addition to other Syrian cities.In Damascus, Faysal, son of Hussein, the grand sheriff of Mecca, formed a pure national government in 1918, which controlled some areas from what was known as 'the greater Syria' which consisted of present day: Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. It controlled all territories except the Syrian coast including Lebanon, and some southern and coastal parts
of Palestine that had been declared as French and British controlled areas. 'Majlis al – Shoura' (Advisory counsel) was formed to represent the legistlative branch of the government.Faysal appointed Rida al- Rikabi as the first Prime Minster of modern Syria, Rikabi formed the first cabinet of modern Syria. The Istiqlal party (party of independence) was formed in February 6, 1919 as the successor of the Jamia al Fatat, as first post- Ottoman Syrian party, and with the leadership of Shukri al- Kuatli, Sadala al- Jabri, and Riad al- Sulh. General elections were held in 1919, and the first Parlement was formed under the name of 'Syrian National Congress,' with Hashim al-Atasi as the first speaker of parliament of democratic Syria. In March, 8,1920 the Syrian National Congress elected and crowned prince Faysal as the King of Syria and Hashim al- Atasi as Prime Minster. Faysal declared Syria a free and independent kingdom, he appointed a 20 members committee headed by Atasi from the Congress to draw up a constitution. The constitution adapted a new flag, declared the first Arab federal system. The Syrian kingdom consisted of 4 autonomous territories; Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. Each territory has high autonomy with a governor general appointed by the monarch, a chamber of deputies, and a local government.
According to the constitution, the monarch and Prime Minster represented the executive branch, and the legislative branch represented by the Syrian National Congress that consisted of two houses; elected Chamber of Deputies, and the house of Senate; where members are half elected, and half appointed by the monarch.
The congress started to reconstruct the state; it reopened schools, universities, and other educational institutions, and built new ones including the Syrian university in Damascus (1923), and the Arab Academy (1919) also in Damascus.
When the French were granted the mandate over Syria by the League of Nations, The French army attacked Damascus and crushed the Syrian resistance led by Minster of war in Atasi’s government Yousef al- Azme in the battle of Maysaluon. The Syrian national congress and the kingdom were dissolved.
