1. Iranian politics before the 1979 revolution
Hugens Casimir
Julianna Celestin
Alejandro Valentin

2. Mohammad Reza Shah BORN : October 26, 1919 -Tehrān, Iran
DIED : July 27, Cairo, Egypt
Competed for control of the Iranian government between Mohammad Mosaddeq
Created SAVAK secret police
: Began the White Revolution : included construction of an expanded road, rail, and air network, dam and irrigation projects, eradication of diseases such as malaria, the encouragement and support of industrial growth, and land reform

3. Ayatollah Khomeini Born:Sept. 24, 1902 Died: June 3, 1989
Leader of the opposition against Mohammad Reza Shah
Declared Islamic Republic with new constitution
Became supreme spiritual leader (Valy-e-Faqih) of Iran
Extreme regulations on women’s dress code were put in place

4. Policies made by iran before the 1979 Revolution
U.N. Volunteer Corps in 1970 (idea was based on the success of Iran's own "Revolutionary Corps")
SAVAK in brutal secret police force under CIA guidance. The Savak became a law unto itself, having legal authority to arrest, detain, brutally interrogate and torture suspected people indefinitely. Savak operated its own prisons in Tehran, such as Qezel-Qalaeh and Evin facilities and many suspected places throughout the country as well. Many of those activities were carried out without any institutional checks

5. Government Systems that Have Ruled Over Iran
Iran has been familiar to only one form and system of government. This form of government was Monarchy.
Through some of its significant years,the country witnessed three Dynasties, with only two having made an impact politically in the country.
The Dynasties were:
The Safavid Dynasty ( )
The Qajar Dynasty ( )
The Pahlavi Dynasty ( )
Within these three Dynasties, only the Qajar and Pahlavi Dynasties managed to implement noticeable and significant political change in Iran’s government.

6. Changes in the system of government (1907-1951)
Introduction of constitution - limited the absolutist powers of rulers
Reza Khan becomes prime minister
Parliament votes to make Reza Khan ruler, deposing Ahmad Shah Qajar
Reza Khan crowned Reza Shah Pahlavi. Mohammad Reza, the Shah's eldest son, is proclaimed Crown Prince
Shah changes country’s name from Persia to Iran
Ali Razmara becomes prime minister and is assassinated less than nine months later. He is succeeded by the nationalist, Mohammad Mossadeq
Parliament votes to nationalize the oil industry, which is dominated by the British-owned Anglo- Iranian Oil Company. Britain imposes an embargo and a blockade, halting oil exports and hitting the economy. A power struggle between the Shah and Mossadeq ensues and the Shah flees the country in August 1953

7. Changes in the system of government (1953- 1979)
Mossadeq is overthrown in a coup engineered by the British and American intelligence services. General Fazlollah Zahedi is proclaimed as prime minister and the Shah returns
The Shah embarks on a campaign to modernise and westernise the country. He launches the 'White Revolution', a programme of land reform and social and economic modernization. During the late 1960's the Shah became increasingly dependent on the secret police (SAVAK) in controlling those opposition movements critical of his reforms
1978 September - The Shah's policies alienate the clergy and his authoritarian rule leads to riots, strikes and mass demonstrations. Martial law is imposed
As the political situation deteriorates, the Shah and his family are forced into exile, Islamic fundamentalist, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, returns to Iran following 14 years of exile in Iraq and France for opposing the regime.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed following a referendum

8. The Qajar Dynasty & Its Impact on Iranian Government (1789-1925)
Founder:
Agha Mohammad Khan
Significant Decision:
Gave the Ulema political power in the country’s government.
Why Was this Significant:
The Muslim Clergy better known as the Ulema were a group of Muslim scholars that were seen as as having in depth knowledge of the sacred laws of Islam and its proper religious beliefs. Though they were known to be very comprehensive of the Islamic law, they were never truly recognized as part of the country’s political infrastructure. The Khan granted the Ulema this privilege so that he himself would be able to receive consultation on future important decisions for the country.

9. The Pahlavi Dynasty & Its Impact on the Iranian Government (1925-1979)
Founder:
Reza Shah
Significant Decision:
Negotiated the evacuation of the Russian troops and eliminated interference treaty with Soviets.
Why Was this Significant:
Russian presence in Iran was becoming very frequent and laissez faire. Shah wanted the removal of Russian troops in the country in order to show that Iran was not in need of Russia’s help to establish a proper governmental system. He also aimed to eradicate any possibility of Russian interference in the country’s affairs, since it was well known that any action the Soviets would offer on Iran’s behalf, would be a move that had an ultimate goal of restricting the country from developing its political infrastructure.

10. Iran’s Relationship with other Countries
During this time, even though Iran was under a Monarch, it still relied on its ties with foreign countries to help somewhat modernize its political infrastructure.
United States:
The Iranian government first saw relations with the U.S. as an opportunity to balance out the European influence that dwelled in the country. However, the citizens of the country started favoring the western form of government and even pressured their own government to adopt a constitution and establish a parliament in 1906,somewhat modeling that of the U.S. which the current heads of Iran did not enjoy.
Britain & Russia:
Politically, these two countries had only one goal in their sights, and that was to keep the government of Iran weak. This was so that it would be easier for both countries to have an influence on the figures elected in the country.
Britain on the other hand was more favored by the Pahlavi Dynasty, since their coup against the Qajar Dynasty in 1921 was was led to the establishment of the Pahlavis as the rulers of the country in 1925
Russia did not share this sense of acceptance within the country’s government, since they led Revolution such as the Jangal Movement in Gilan. This was a rebellion against the Qajar Dynasty which lasted from 1914 to This ruse caused the Country to be unfavorable of Russian relations politically.

11. New Theocracy: Hardships women suffered
Women in politics
In early Muslim traditions influenced by nomadic tribal customs (allowing women power and control) versus urban merchants (secluding and treating women as property).
They believed women belonged at home. Where they would cook, clean, and bare children.
The 1906 constitution enfranchised men, but not women. It denied women political rights,although, it guaranteed equal rights and protection to all Iranians. Article 5 of the 1906 Supplementary Fundamental Law states
“Are to enjoy rights before law”.
But equal rights applied to men only at the time
New Theocracy: Hardships women suffered
The 1979 revolution politicized the mass of Iranian women. But the women’s expectation still were not realized. The new theocracy systematically rolled back five decades of progress in women’s rights.
Women were purged from government positions.

12. Continuation:Women in politics
Iranian women made considerable progress during the Pahlavi era ( ).
Women’s increasing access to education, revenue earning activities, and social participation, and their disaffection with official Isam combined with their inferior positions within social and economic hierarchy had an important impact on the structuring of their political behavior.
In 1963, women acquired the right to vote and run for parliament
By 1978, on the eve of Iran’s revolution, 22 women sat in parliament and 333 women served on elected local councils.
Farrokhroo Parsa was the first woman to be appointed Minister of Education in 1968 and Mahnaz Afkhami was appointed Minister for Women's Affairs in 1976.

13. references
"Historic Personalities of Iran: Reza Shah Pahlavi." Historic Personalities of Iran: Reza Shah Pahlavi. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb <
"Frenemies: Iran and America since 1900 | Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective." Frenemies: Iran and America since 1900 | Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb <
"History of Iran: Pahlavi Dynasty." History of Iran: Pahlavi Dynasty. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb <
"History of Iran: Qajar Dynasty." History of Iran: Qajar Dynasty. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb <
"The Ottoman Ulema." The Ottoman Ulema | Muslim Heritage. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb <
Electricpulp.com. "Encyclopædia Iranica." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb <
Esfandiari, Haleh. The Women's Movement
Keddie, Nikki. "Women: Emancipation or Suppression?" Moghadam, Fatemeh Etemad. The Iranian Revolution. n.d.
Vakil, Sanam. "Action & Reaction: Women & Politics i Iran." 5 April Muftah.
"Women & Politics in Iran." Sedghi, Hamideh