Once upon a time there was an ancient kingdom called Persia. For thousands of years Persia was ruled by "shahs" who were like kings.

Persia began to lose power and became a smaller state called Iran. Many Iranians, the people who lived in Iran, did not like the shah.

When we speak up, he puts us down.

The shah is too old fashioned.

The Iranian people kicked the Shah out of Iran and he fled to the United States where he could be safe.

Iran

This made the people of Iran mad. Why was the United States being nice to the Shah when he had been mean to his people?

To show the United States their anger, a group of the maddest Iranians attacked the embassy: a big building in Iran where some American people lived and worked.

The angry Iranians took 66 Americans hostage. This means that the Americans had to do everything that the Iranians said even if they did not want to.

Us Americans want to go home!

But the Iranians wont let us!