Change—Revolutions The Iranian Revolution THEMATIC ESSAY REVIEW

THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION You are not limited to these suggestions. Part II THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes and introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task below and a conclusion. Theme: Change—Revolutions   Throughout history, revolutions have developed in response to a variety of conditions. These revolutions have often resulted in significant political, economic and social change. Task: Select two revolutions and for each • Describe the historical circumstances leading to this revolution • Discuss the political, economic, and/or social effects of this revolution You many use any revolution from your study of global history. Some suggestions you may wish to consider are: Neolithic Revolution, French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Russian Revolution, Mexican Revolution, Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Green Revolution in Agriculture. You are not limited to these suggestions.

Iranian Revolution 1979 Iran (Middle East)

historical circumstances

BEFORE Iran had been ruled by a secular rulers called Shahs

BEFORE Iran was attempting to modernize, copying Western institutions like schools, government, etc., and the Shahs eliminated Islamic law

BEFORE Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was a United States ally during the Cold War because he wasn’t communist

BEFORE The Shah’s government was unpopular and in the late 1970’s demonstrations, strikes and campaigns of civil disobedience erupted against his regime

BEFORE The protests were closely tied to Islamic fundamentalism, a movement within Islam to get back to the basics of the religion

BEFORE In 1979, fearing for his life, the Shah and his family abdicated and fled the country to the United States

AFTER Iran established a new government, based on Islamic law, making it a theocracy

AFTER The leader of the new Iran was a religious leader called Ayatollah Khomeini

AFTER Strict censorship was imposed on the country and harsh punishment for breaking the law was strictly enforced

AFTER Women were stripped of all their rights and had to be covered in public (or else face instant execution).

impact on history

POLITICAL This increased tension with the rest of the world, as the Ayatollah was anti-Western. Many Western nationals—mostly reporters covering the revolution—were held hostage, causing diplomatic crises.

ECONOMIC In the late 1970’s, the Organization of Petroleum Export Countries—and organization of mostly Middle Eastern countries, cut oil-production, causing a world-wide energy crisis

SOCIAL International travel was dangerous due to terrorism. Iran had ties to terrorist organizations—like Al-Qaeda—that committed many acts of terrorism directed at the U. S. through the 1980’s, including hijacking or blowing up planes

http://mrspencer.info RegentsPrep.org