White Revolution
The Shah advertised the White Revolution as a step towards modernization, but there is little doubt that he also had political motives; the White Revolution (a name attributed to the fact it was bloodless) was a means for him to legitimize the Pahlavi dynasty. Part of the reason for launching the White Revolution was that the Shah hoped to remove the landlords' influence and create a new base of support among the peasants and working class. He wanted Iranian citizens to be able to live an educated and prosperous lifestyle. The bulk of the program was aimed at Iran's peasantry, a class the Shah hoped to gain as an ally to thwart the threat of the increasingly hostile middle class. Thus the White Revolution in Iran represented a new attempt to introduce reform from above and preserve traditional power patterns. Through land reform, the essence of the White Revolution, the Shah hoped to ally himself with the peasantry in the countryside, and hoped to sever their ties with the aristocracy in the city.