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Confronting Third World Nationalism: The United States and the Overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadegh
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Author: Jennifer Woods, Broadneck High, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Grade Level: High School
Duration: One class period
Overview:
Iran is a country whose name is increasingly being heard in the news, yet many do not understand the complicated diplomatic and political past between Iran and the United States. It is a history that involves fear of the spread of communism and the struggle for control of oil. The 1953 United States sponsored overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, sparked over half a century of distrust and hatred of the United States in Iran. In this lesson students will delve into the reasons behind the plan to overthrow Mossadegh and bring the Shah to power. The role that anti-communism propaganda played in furthering the United States' ultimate goals in Iran will be discussed by examining primary source documents from the State Department. Ultimately, students will be asked to form their own opinions about the events of 1953 and suggest alternative courses of action. They will make a connection between events of yesterday and their influence on current happenings.
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