PLCP 3410 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE Gelvin, ch. 19-20 Gelvin Chapter 19: The Iranian Revolution • Pahlavi Dynasty was overthrown by the Revolution [Reza Shah, and his son Muhammad Reza Shah] • Reza Shah was forced to abdicate during WW2 by Soviets/British because he leaned towards the Nazis • They put Muhammad Reza to power o Limited his power by re-establishing the Majlis as an independent power center [Majlis – lower house of legislature] o Allowed organization of trade unions and political parties o To the dislike of British and US, the Communist party (Tudeh) proved to be the most popular • Muhammad Mossadegh takes power in may of 1951, advocating nationalizing oil industry and restricting the Shah’s power o Founded the National Front [coalition of politicians opposed to Shah autocracy] o He was similar to third world leaders of the Nasser generation: modernization and nation building was the emphasis o Supportig seizing Foreign assets o Initially Mossadegh is supported by the traditional middle class (artisans, merchants, ulama, and the like), and modern middle class (Studnets, industrial workers, professionals, and so on) o When the Shah tried to oust Mossadegh many from these groups worked to protest against the Shah, resulting in the Shah’s flight to Rome o Autocratic attempts by Mossadegh (dissolving parliament and getting executive power) frightened the coalition into starting to turn against him, especially the conservative elements of society