1. MONARCHY TO THEOCRACY, SHAH TO AYATOLLAH
IRANIAN REVOLUTION
MONARCHY TO THEOCRACY,
SHAH TO AYATOLLAH

2. SHAH OF IRAN Promised constitutional monarchy
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919 – 1980)
Promised constitutional monarchy
Increasingly took power from PM

3. GAINED POWER (Replaced father, Reza Pahlavi  Forced to abdicate
By Britain & USSR
Friendly relations with Nazi Germany)

4. “KING OF KINGS” Crowned himself: Emperor In 1967
Also crowned his wife: empress
(Note: Peacock Throne->)

5. LEADERSHIP STYLE Manipulation Built loyal army
Expansion of constitutional powers
After assassination attempt
1949
Secret police: “SAVAK”:
Suppressed opponents
Helped rich at expense of poor

6. WHITE REVOLUTION Reform policies Generally positive impact: on some
Land reform
Some land taken from religious leaders
= no income for them
Voting rights to women
Elimination of illiteracy
Generally positive impact: on some
Resented by religious leaders

7. COLD WAR Ally of the West Oil deal with U.S.
Not USSR: bordering nation
Oil deal with U.S.
Opponents critical of subservience to US

8. INCREASED OPPOSITION From Shi’ite Muslims Western moderization:
Western clothing
Eliminated Qur’anic oaths Lack of democracy
Unresponsive to public opinion
Uneven distribution of wealth
Land reform

9. INCREASED DISCONTENT In 1970’s
Islamic clerics, esp. Ayatollah Khomeini
built on popular discontent
Demonstrations, riots, strikes
Tied these ideas to Islamic principles
Called for overthrow of the Shah

10. REVOLUTIONARY IMAGES

11. REVOLUTION! Widespread demonstrations Shah’s gov’t. collapsed 1978-’79
Jan. 16, 1979
Shah fled Iran
Went to Egypt

12. MORE……..

13. AND MORE…

14. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC = gov’t which supports religion Or theocracy
Led by Rouhollah Khomeini ……..
Muslim “ayatollah”
Based on Islamic fundamentalism