What events led to Iran

becoming an Islamic

republic?

Find out here.

• In the early 1960s, the Shah (King) of

Iran, pictured here, launched a series of

reforms called the White Revolution.

“White” meant change without

bloodshed.• With U.S. aid, he built roads and

schools, and set up industries. He also

gave women new rights, including the

right to vote.• Religious leaders objected to the

reforms, saying that they violated many

rules of Shia Islamic law, which dictates

all aspects of people’s lives, including

how they should dress and behave.

Political leaders protested the Shah’s

tightening hold on power.

• The Shah’s secret police, called

SAVAK, used force to squelch

opposition to his rule or policies.

(Shown here: General Nematollah

Nassiri, SAVAK’s chief, in 1971.)

• During the 1970s, the Shah’s

government grew increasingly

corrupt and became wealthy from

Iran’s oil reserves.

• In 1975, the Shah ended multiparty

politics, making himself head of the

only party allowed.

• SAVAK imprisoned, beat,

exiled (sent out of the

country), tortured, and killed

critics of the Shah and their

family members. Yet

protests, as shown above,

grew louder and more

violent.

• Religious leaders, such

as Islamic scholar

Ayatollah Ruhollah

Khomeini, encouraged the

protesters. Riots broke out

in some cities.

• Realizing that he could

no longer stifle opposition,

the Shah fled Iran on

January 16, 1979.

• Ayatollah Khomeini, pictured here,

appointed a new government and was

declared Iran’s religious and political

leader for life.

• He established strict religious law,

called sharia (shuh-REE-uh). Women

had to wear veils in public, and most of

their rights were abolished.

• Khomeini also banned Western-style

culture and activities, such as popular

music. Iranians who violated sharia were

jailed or executed.

• In October 1979, U.S.

President Jimmy Carter

allowed the Shah into the

U.S. for medical care.

• On November 4, young

revolutionaries reacted by

storming the U.S. Embassy in

Iran’s capital. They took 52

Americans hostage (see

photo), most of whom worked

at the embassy.• The revolutionaries vowed

not to release the hostages

until the U.S. sent the Shah

back to Iran for trial.

• President Carter refused

to turn over the Shah. Anti-

U.S. feelings in Iran

intensified, and the hostage

crisis continued.

• In April 1980, Carter ordered

a military rescue of the

hostages. Plagued by

problems, such as the plane

crash pictured above, it failed.

• The Shah died on

July 27, 1980. On January

20, 1981—the day Carter

left office—the Iranians

released the hostages.