Constitutional Revolution (1905-1907)

Constitutional Revolution leading causes:

-

Dissatisfaction with economic stagnation;

Influence of Western powers;
Results of Russo-Jap war (1904-1905);
= disapproval on the ground culminated into an oppositional
movement hoping to bring about a Constitutional Revolution

Guideline of events:
- Royal extravagance financial concerns
- Economic woes increased: Currency based on silver; inflation
= decline in value of land tax and drop in value of silver
qeran; drastic fall in int. price of silver
- Shah being a dick with countrys money; borrows from Russia
(3 mill): instead of fixing economy the genius goes on holiday
trips to Europe
- Corruption
- Public dissatisfaction grows protests on street (1900-95)
- Financial woes continued with fall in trade with Russia
following Russo-Jap war
- Merchants publically beaten by Tehran Governor for raising
prices Bazaar goes on strike demanding justice from the
Shah
- Support and legitimacy strengthened by religious elite
movement demands establishment of a parliament
- Majlis granted in 1906 granted some power to guilds
(merchants, craftsmen, etc.)
- Drew up constitution that on paper remained in-effect
(largely ignored by monarchs) until the 1979 Rev. put shah
under the rule of law.
Mozaffar-e Shah ineffective ruler:
- Accumulated a fortune in foreign debt selling off assets to
repay interest instead of investing in the country
- Financial problems emerged due to royal extravagance
coupled with absence of incoming revenues intensified Irans
already troubling economic woes:
-

After 1308/1890 the Persian government found itself in increasing

financial difficulties, as inflation produced a sharp decline in the
value of the land tax and the silver qern lost value against the
pound sterling with the rapid fall of international silver prices at
the end of the 19th century.

Led them to borrow money from Russia: Requested two large

loans (total 3 million pound sterling 1900; 1902) from Russia
which were then spent on trips to Europe.
There was no money being put towards infrastructure

Granted many concessions to foreign powers, on an

expanding list of trade ideas ranging from weapons to even
tobacco
Oil industry being sold to the British; tax advantages on
import and export, and manufactured textiles destroyed
Irans economy which was formerly supported by the Bazzar
Result: Shah = bad; people angry instead of writing FB
status about it, they took to the streets!
Bazaar merchants, Ulema, & radical reforms rallied together
behind aims of ending political corruption of regime and
freeing Iran from dominating foreign powers

Revolution historical developments: before & after

- Protesters began to demand a limit on royal authority and the
establishment of the rule of law all classes of society:
including merchants, religious establishment
demonstrations took place from 1900-95
- Shahs failures to respond to such protests brought about the
formation of the Constitutional Rev. movement
- Discontent grew from issues with customs reform and govt.
fiscal policies led merchants to establish and fund
oppositional movement in Tehran support from religious
elite: Seyyid Behbahani & Seyyid Tabatabai
- 1904: financial issues exacerbated due to short-fall in trade
with Russia due to Russo-Jap war
- 1905: two merchants were tortured by Tehran Governor for
raising price of sugar providing oppositional movement
pretext for open resistance to govt. next day Bazaar went
on strike and mass of people led by Behbahani & Tabatabai
called for removal of Governor at Masjid-e Shah
- Sanctuary was sought in the Mosque but the govt. violated
this sanctuary, entering and dispersing the people causing a
larger outcry. Mosques were regarded as safe-zones
- Negotiations broke down between Govt but demand for
establishment of House of Justice - a system of tribunals
throughout provinces by which the govt. would be held
accountable was agreed upon
- Jan. 1906: protesters took refuge in mosques in Tehran;
broken promise to establish House of Justice
- October: elected assembly convened and drew up a
constitution based on the protestors requests:
1. strict limitations on royal power
2. elected parliament, majlis (general assembly) with wide
powers to represent the people
3. a govt. with a cabinet subject to the confirmation by the
Majles
- Mozaffar-e Din Shah signed in Dec. 1906 but being the smart
ass that he was

refused to grant his power to Majlis, and placed condition that

his signature was required for the passing of all forms of
legislation but died 5 days later.. lol
- Supplementary Fundamental Laws approved in 1907:
providing, within limits, freedom of press, speech, and
security of life and property. However, the hopes for a
Constitutional Rule were not actualized.
- Muhammad Ali Shah (Mozaffars son) came to power with the
backing of Russia, attempting to cancel the Constitution and
eliminate parliamentary government
- 1908: Shahs army bombed the Majlis building, closed down
the assembly and arrested numerous deputies assisted by
Russian General who executed several Constitutional leaders
- Shahs tyranny united people in opposition to his govt
Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht and other parts of Iran
- 1909 large constitutional forces marched from Rasht to
Tehran, deposed the Shah, and re-established the constitution
forcing Shah into exile in Russia
- Parliament voted to put Muhammad Ali Shahs son, Ahmad
Shah, on the throne.
- The hope of many that the Cons. Rev. would inaugurate new
era of independence from great powers ended with the
Anglo-Russian Agreement 1907 Britain + Russia dividing
Persia into spheres of influence Russian pursued their
interests with exclusive right in the northern sphere, and
British in the south and east both powers would be free to
compete for economic and political advantage in a neutral
sphere in the center
- 1911: Russian demand for dismissal of Schuster US
administrator hired as a treasurer general by Persian govt. to
reform its finances
- Majlis refuses Russian demand; Russian troops move in to
occupy the capital
- Britain opposes Russia due to their interests in southern
oil fields negotiations in Paris Russia reconsidered its
demand.
- 1917 Russian Rev. Britain used Iran as springboard for
an attack into Russia in an unsuccessful attempt to
reverse the Russian Rev.
- Soviets response: take more territories in Northern Persia
as shield states
- Ahmad Shah succeeds throne during Persian occupation
of WWI
-

Results:
- Constitution was gained

Independence from foreign powers was not

Go to Gender Notes for Pahlavi notes do Constitutional Rev.

Pahlavi Revolution Green movment afterwards
See notes

Revolution:

An Iranian legacy and memory of external intervention

(anglo-russia battling for spheres of influence )that was also a
prominent feature of the Pahlavi dynasty, was vital in the
creation of a national popular culture and the formation of a
revolutionary ideology Argued by Panah
Multidimensional - The revolution was in part a conservative
reaction against the Westernizing and secularizing efforts of
the Western-backed Shah; and a liberal reaction to the lack
of social freedom.

When Shah fled Bakhtiar assumed power and attempted to

restore the nation: dissolved secret service, freed political
prisoners, granted freedom to demonstrations, promised free
elections
Invited Khomeini back to Iran and requested work towards
the establishment of a Vatican like state n Qom
1979 Jan Khomeini greeted by several millions who all put
their faith in the charismatic cleric to bring about democratic
freedom for Iranians.
Referendum of April Yes-No: Iran Islamic Republic and
whether or not Khomeini would become leader of the country
under a new form of governance: Wilayatul Faqeeh a
theoretical theory of governance based on Shii jurisprudence
postulated by Khomeini
Strangly this revolution did not come with the charactristsics
typical of revolutions, rather it was:
1) Produced profound change at great speed
2) Was massively popular
3) Overthrew a regime heavily protected by a lavishly financed
army and security services
Replaced a modernizing monarchy with a theocracy based
on Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists.
Khomeini
1.
worked to unite the opposition behind him
2.
focused on the socio-economic problems of the
Shah's regime
3.
avoided addressing the details and information about
his plan for the future which might have divide the general
public and groups.
4.
Concealed his plan for clerical rule.
Despite having support of many well know scholars such as
Mutahari, many clergies did not follow Khomeini's lead:
- Popular ayatollah Taleghani supported the Mujahedin, and
the most senior and influential ayatollah in Iran,
Shariatmadari was supporting a democratic revolution.