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Iranian Revolution Facts & Worksheets

The Iranian Revolution is an event also known as the Islamic Revolution and the 1979 Revolution.

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The Iranian Revolution is an event also known as the Islamic Revolution and the 1979 Revolution. It was a revolution led by student movements and Islamist and leftist organizations that successfully overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty that was supported by the United States.

See the fact file below for more information on the Iranian Revolution or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Iranian Revolution worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL FACTS

  • The Iranian Revolution ignited on January 7, 1978 and ended on February 11, 1979.
  • The main goal of the Iranian revolution was to overthrow the Pahlavi dynasty.
  • It was led by student movements and Islamist and leftist organizations.

THE PAHLAVI DYNASTY

  • The Pahlavi dynasty is a monarchy that ruled the Imperial State of Iran, formerly known as the Imperial State of Persia, from 1925 until 1935.
  • Their rule began from 1925 until they were overthrown in the 1979 revolution.
  • It was founded by a former brigadier-general of the Persian Cossack Brigade, Reza Shah Pahlavi. He reigned until 1941.
  • He was succeeded by his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was then the last Shah of Iran.
  • Shah is the title that is used or given to the monarchs: emperors, kings, princes, and lords of Iran.

CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION

  • The general causes of the Iranian Revolution were:
    • The people of Iran grew discontented with the Shah’s rule.
    • Ruhollah Khomeini, an Iranian politician, revolutionary, and cleric,
    • was exiled.
    • Rampant social injustice.
    • Religious endeavors.

METHODS USED IN THE REVOLUTION

  • The methods used in the Iranian Revolution were:
    • Demonstrations — mass protests directed towards a certain political cause.
    • Mass Strike — mass action in which a significant proportion of laborers participate.
    • Civil Resistance — political action that uses nonviolent resistance to undermine or challenge a power, force, or regime.

RESULTS OF THE REVOLUTION

  • In general, the Iranian Revolution resulted in:
    • The overthrow of the Shah and Iranian Monarchy.
    • An oil crisis in 1979.
    • The Persian Constitution of 1906 was replaced by the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
    • Iran had a new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
    • A hostage crisis happened.
    • The Iran-Iraq War began.
  • Iran was put in a “revolutionary crisis mode,” when the economic and government apparatus collapsed until 1982 or 1983.
  • This was referred to as the Consolidation of The Iranian Revolution.

TIMELINE OF THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION

  • 1908: Shah of Iran signed a concession with a British company, exclusively giving it the rights to mine and import oil from Iran.
  • 1921: Army-general Reza Khan started a coup d’etat in Iran and succeeded.
  • 1925: Reza Khan took over to become the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty.
  • Shah Reza Khan introduced reforms that were not popular to the Iranian population.
  • 1941: Reza Shah, forced by Britain and Soviet Russia, stepped down his throne. He was succeeded by Mohammad Reza Shah.
  • This was done in order for Britain and Russia to secure that Iranian oil fields would not be utilized by Germans during World War II.
  • 1951: Mohammad Mosaddegh was elected Prime Minister of Iran.
  • Mohammad Mosaddegh planned to nationalise Iran’s oil industry, so that Iran would benefit from its own resources and veer away from foreign interest.
  • 1953: CIA, MI6, along with the Shah’s support, successfully conspired a coup that led to Mosaddegh’s resignation.
  • After the coup, Mohammad Reza Shah became closer to the U.S. as his rule became more authoritarian.
  • 1963: The White Revolution in Iran happened.
  • The White Revolution was led by the Shah, and done by starting a series of reforms that carried western ideologies or served western interests.
  • Through this disaffection sprouted and the Opposition led by the cleric Ayatollah Khomeini was formed.
  • November 4, 1964: Ayatollah Khomeini was forcibly exiled from Iran.
  • 1970: The oil boom was said to “trickle down” to the ordinary citizens of Iran, but it never happened.
  • The Shah’s family grew wealthy while ordinary Iranians remained poor.
  • The resentment of the people towards the Shah’s rule grew.
  • January 7, 1978: A Tehran newspaper published an article mainly attacking Ayatollah Khomeini.
  • Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini sparked violent demonstrations.
  • This was followed by a series of protests against the suppression of other protests.
  • The Shah eventually decided to listen to the demands of the opposition.
  • August 19, 1978: A terrorist attack occurred in a cinema.
  • This resulted in a new wave of protests, as each side blamed the other for the tragic event.
  • September 8, 1978: As Tehran was declared to be in a state of Martial Law along with other Iranian cities, violent encounters between demonstrators and military forces occurred.
  • This event was dubbed to be “Black Friday.”
  • The deadly clash mainly happened in Jaleh Square, Tehran.
  • Around 88 people were shot and killed.
  • Around 205 to 8000 people were injured by the Pahlavi Military.
  • September 9-13, 1986: Iranian oil workers and government workers went on strike.
  • A general strike followed to stop Iran’s industry.
  • October 6, 1978: Ayatollah Khomeini was exiled to Paris, France.
  • November 5, 1978: Protesters started to burn ‘western’ business buildings.
  • November 6, 1978: The Shah expressed sympathy to the protesters through a televised speech.
  • January 16, 1979: A great extent of support was lost to the Shah, who was forced to exile with his family to Egypt.
  • February 1, 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran.
  • Further civil disturbances were necessary as Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar insisted on his power.
  • February 11, 1979: Iranian military disowned their service for Bakhtiar. And so, the Iranian monarchy ended, and Ayatollah Khomeini’s rule began.

Iranian Revolution Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Iranian Revolution across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Iranian Revolution worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Iranian Revolution which is an event also known as the Islamic Revolution and the 1979 Revolution. It was a revolution led by student movements and Islamist and leftist organizations that successfully overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty, under the reign of the United States, supported by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Iranian Revolution Facts
  • A Glossary of Terms
  • A Timeline of Events
  • Causes of the Revolution
  • Opposing Sides
  • Key Leaders Decoding
  • Picture Analysis
  • Effects and Aftermath
  • Traits of a Revolutionary
  • Iran Then and Now
  • Interview Sheet

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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