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Quite a few factors. There were genuine complaints and a drought and rising food prices made matters worse. The protesters were encouraged to the streets by western reporting and the suggestion that Syria would go the way of Libya (NATO assistance to the protesters)
It's important to remember that US NGOs had been stoking tensions since 2007 and agitating against Assad. The Muslim Brotherhood was banned in Syria but they played a role in the early days.
The biggest factor in turning this from a protest to war was the western media and governments backing everyone who spoke against Assad. The is evidenced by the fact that Brahain had much larger protests that were clamped down on much harder. But their government suits the US so we didn't hear as much of these protests.
Islamists were attracted partially by the Muslim Brotherhood, partially by the weapons the US was giving the rebels.
Its also important to remember that at their height, those wanting to overthrow Assad were only about 30% of the country.
