1. Change—Revolutions The Iranian Revolution
THEMATIC ESSAY
REVIEW

2. 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.

3. Iranian Revolution
1979
Iran (Middle East)

4. historical
circumstances

5. BEFORE
Iran had been ruled by a secular rulers called Shahs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. impact on history

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

19.
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