A series of complex events starting from the Pahlavi dynasty resulted in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the Iranian nationalist, Mohammad Mosaddeq, fought for popular support and government control in the early 1950s. Mosaddeq's popularity increased dramatically to the point that the Shah had to promote Mosaddeq to the position of prime minister. He later passed a law nationalizing the ownership of foreign oil companies. The Shah tried to rid himself of Mosaddeq in 1953 but was instead forced to leave the country by Mosaddeq's supporters. Mosaddeq's opponents and the United States helped return the Shah to power through a military coup, causing him to begin a reversal of Mosaddeq's policies. A notable precursor to the Iranian Revolution was the White Revolution. This was a series of changes that involved improved transportation, irrigation, industrial growth and land reform. The Shah wanted Iran to become less dependent on other nations. The most important principle of the White Revolution was the drastic agrarian reform, which redistributed agricultural land to 1,638,000 peasant families. Despite attempts to improve the situation of various social classes, socioeconomic inequality persisted. Although the Shah won general support for his actions, some criticized that his reforms were not radical enough or that his Westernization was dangerous to Islam. Disapproval of the Shah was based on his autocratic rule, corruption, unequal distribution of oil wealth, modernization and Westernization, and the oppressive activities of the Savak, the government police, against those who disagreed with the regime . Although the Shah made many significant changes in the social and economic structure of Iran, ... half of the document ... the post of authority was vacant, the prime minister, Shapour Bakhtiar, had to temporarily assume the role of leadership of the village . Unfortunately, the state of Iran was so tumultuous that he was unable to maintain control. Due to Iran's political and social unrest, Ayatollah Khomeini was able to return to the country in February 1979. The prime minister could no longer handle his position and went into hiding, eventually leaving Iran. Now that the country lacked a formal government, the Shah's opponents could begin executions against the Shah's supporters. Ayatollah Khomeini then held a vote to determine whether or not Iran should be an Islamic Republic. The people voted in favor. Ayatollah Khomeini became the religious leader of the new Iran and instituted the radical changes of the Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution.