High level summary: The Shah tried to rapidly westernise Iran[1], and in doing so became deeply unpopular with Islamic Fundamentalists. His reforms also upset

High level summary: The Shah tried to rapidly westernise Iran[1], and in doing so became deeply unpopular with Islamic Fundamentalists. His reforms also upset some of the Iranian 'elite' (whose land was redistributed), and his fig leaf democracy upset secularists who wanted more power. The killing of around 400 protestors lead to a general uprising, with the 'elites', and secularists allaying with the fundamentalists to overthrow the Shah. The elites/secularists thought they would take over, but actually had the rug pulled out from under them and the fundamentalists taking over. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Revolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Revolution