What triggered protest at Kent State?
The tolling of Kent State's Victory Bell, signaling the start of the antiwar protest, drew Norman to the commons just before noon on Monday, May 4, 1970. A camera hung from his neck.
Why were people protesting at Kent State?
Tensions ran higher than ever, spurred on by mass demonstrations and incidents of official violence such those at Kent State in May 1970, when National Guard troops shot into a group of protesters demonstrating against the U.S. invasion of Cambodia, killing four students.
How many people died in the Kent State protest?
On May 4, 1970, at Ohio's Kent State University, four American citizens were murdered by their own government. A line of 29 men of the Ohio National Guard marched up before a group of unarmed protesters and opened fire, killing four and wounding nine others. It's an episode now burned into history as the Kent State Massacre.
What is significant about the protests after Kent State?
What is the significant about the protests after Kent State? They amount to the largest mass demonstartion in American history. Who did the hard hats attack in NYC? “Hard Hat Riot:” Union Workers Attack Anti-War Demonstrators in NYC.
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Why did the Kent State shooting happen?
Kent State had been home to a robust protest movement for several years amid the conflict in Vietnam, but demonstrations grew in size and emotion in 1970 when the U.S. invaded Cambodia. After a large demonstration of more than 500 students on May 1, another was scheduled for May 4.
What did the protestors throw back at the Guards?
In response, protestors threw the canisters back at the Guards, who wore gas masks, and also threw rocks and shouted insults at the armed soldiers. A group of more than 70 Guardsmen moved toward the crowd with bayonetted rifles, forcing them to retreat down a hill and toward a parking lot. Source: getty.
How many people were killed in the Kent State University massacre?
Fifty years ago, on May 4, 1970, four students were killed and another nine wounded at Kent State University by the Ohio National Guard. A lot has changed in the world in those five decades, but unfortunately, violent responses to unarmed protestors still occur, despite the many lessons for law enforcement that the massacre offered.
Why did the guard fire into the crowd?
In the aftermath of the massacre, people sought answers to why the Guard fired into the crowd, and protests in response to the shooting cropped across the nation on campuses and in a massive protest in Washington D.C. to both the war and the Kent State student deaths. The Guard alleged that a sniper had fired onto them, ...
How close were the guardsmen to the victims?
Of the 13 dead and wounded, the closest any of the victims was in proximity to a Guardsman was 72 feet. At least two were shot from behind including Dean R. Kahler, who was standing 300 feet away from the Guardsmen and who was permanently paralyzed as a result of his injuries. Article continues below advertisement.
Where was the protests in the Ohio State University?
Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, was one such campus where tense protests were held. The campus was a relatively unlikely setting for the dramatic events that unfolded over the span of four days leading up to the tragedy. Compared to nearby Ohio State University, the Kent State student body was generally less liberal and more blue-collar [source: Lytle]. However, it's thought that outside agitators helped escalate the violence and intensity of the protests.
Who called the protesters "bombs blowing up campuses"?
Gov. Rhodes wasn't the only one who disparaged the protestors during the days leading up to the tragedy. On May 2, reporters overheard President Nixon referring to them as "Bums… blowing up campuses" [source: Bills ]. After the Kent shootings, this remark came back to haunt him.
What happened in the 1960s and 70s?
The 1960s and '70s were tumultuous times in the United States. The country was fighting an unpopular war in Vietnam that was instigating a wave of protests. In 1970, tensions came to a fever pitch when tragedy struck on one college campus. On May 4, members of the Ohio National Guard shot into a crowd of antiwar protestors at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine.
What did the FBI find about the shootings?
And a 1970 FBI investigation into the shootings found that the guardsmen were not in danger and they "fabricated" this defense [source: Polner ].
What was Nixon's response to the shootings?
President Nixon's response to the shootings was simply, "When dissent turns to violence, it invites tragedy, " which struck many as cold [source: Lytle]. Nixon's Vice President Spiro Agnew said the tragedy was "predictable." And the president's speechwriter, Ray Price, expressed sympathy for the guardsmen, calling them "a bunch of scared kids with guns" [source: Wells]. According to a Gallup Poll, most of the American public believed the protesters were primarily to blame [source: Polner ].
Why did the guardsmen shoot into the crowd?
The guardsmen who shot into the crowd claimed they did so in self-defense; they felt their lives were in danger. They testified that the protesters advanced on them in a threatening way that warranted shooting. Some historians who've investigated the shootings have accused the guardsmen of conspiring to shoot into the crowd before they retreated back up Blanket Hill.
How many people were there at the Antiwar rally?
Another 1,000 weren't actively participating -- they just came to show their support for the rally. Approximately 1,500 more lined the perimeter of the crowd, watching the rally and milling around. It wasn't exactly an antiwar protest; rather, evidence suggests that students were there to protest the guardsmen on campus.
When was Kent State University founded?
Nestled on rolling hills in the not-quite-quaint small town of Kent, Ohio, some 30 miles (100 km) southeast of Cleveland, Kent State University was founded in 1910 as a teachers college, Kent State Normal School.
What happened on April 30th?
It was all the more surprising, then, when Nixon returned to television 10 days later, on the night of April 30, to announce that U.S. and South Vietnamese troops were mounting a major invasion of Cambodia, which had provided a haven for the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops.
What was the Black United Students' activism?
From 1965 to 1970 more than 10 organizations at Kent State were involved in antiwar and civil rights activism. In 1968 the Black United Students (BUS) organization joined the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapter in staging a five-hour sit-in protest of the recruiting visit to campus by the Oakland, California, police department.
What happened on May 2?
During the day on May 2, students helped clean up the damage downtown. More rumours flew about the threat of radical activity. At about 8:00 pm some 1,000 individuals gathered at the ROTC building, which some of the demonstrators then set on fire.
What happened to the garbage can in Cambodia?
Sometime around 11:00 pm, fueled by a mixture of alcohol and rage at the invasion of Cambodia, revellers overturned a garbage can in the middle of the street, set fire to its contents , and set upon the police who responded.
How many troops were withdrawn from Vietnam in 1970?
On April 20, 1970, Nixon went on national television to announce that 115,500 U.S. troops had been withdrawn from Vietnam as of April 15 and that another 150,000 troops were scheduled to leave by the end of 1971. After escalating for some five years, American involvement in Vietnam seemed to be winding down.
What happened on May 4, 1970?
May 4, 1970. ... (Show more) Location: United States. ... (Show more) Full Article. Kent State shooting, the shooting of unarmed college students at Kent State University, in northeastern Ohio, by the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970, one of the seminal events of the anti- Vietnam War movement in the United States.
What was the Kent State protest?
The Kent State Protest, or Kent State shootings, involved the shooting and killing of unarmed university students who were protesting against the Vietnam War .
When did the Kent State protests take place?
The Kent State protest occurred between 1st and 4th May, 1970. The shootings took place on the final day.
Why was there such public outrage at the Kent State shooting?
The students killed in the Kent State shootings were white and middle class, which was why there was such public outrage. When two black students were shot and 12 injured during an anti-war protest at Jackson State University, there was very little publicity or reaction.
Why did the Kent State shooting happen?
The Kent State shootings started when National Guardsmen fired their guns into a crowd of student protesters and students. The reasons for the shooting remain unclear.
Why were the shootings important?
The shootings were significant as it strengthened the anti-war movement further and led to increased calls for America to withdraw from Vietnam.
How did the Kent State shootings affect the public?
These shootings helped convince the U.S. public that the anti-war protesters were not just hippies, drug addicts, or promoters of free love. They also included middle and upper-class people, as well as educated people. Rather than causing a decline in protests, the Kent State Shootings actually escalated protests. Many colleges and universities across the United States cancelled classes for the remainder of the academic year in fear of violent protests erupting on their campuses. In 1970, The Ohio State University dismissed its Spring Quarter classes in early May rather than in June because of protests at this institution. Other Ohio institutions followed suit. Kent State University immediately closed with the shootings on May 4, and did not offer classes again for six weeks, when the summer term began.
What happened to the Kent State shootings?
When the Guardsmen shot and killed four students on May 4, the Kent State Shootings became the focal point of a nation deeply divided by the Vietnam War. By 1970, thousands of people in the United States were actively protesting the Vietnam War. There were numerous reasons why these protests took place.
What was the end of the Vietnam War?
The various protests drew to an end as President Richard Nixon, who served from 1969-1974, began to withdraw U.S. soldiers from North and South Vietnam. With the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which basically ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, the protests drew to a formal close. Still, the Kent State Shootings continue to reverberate through U.S. society and culture. An example of this is Neil Young's song, "Ohio," which commemorated the shootings.
What year did the Kent State shootings happen?
Kent State Shootings. Students protesting at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 1970. In May 1970, students protesting the bombing of Cambodia by United States military forces, clashed with Ohio National Guardsmen on the Kent State University campus. When the Guardsmen shot and killed four students on May 4, the Kent State Shootings became ...
What is the song that commemorates the Kent State shooting?
Still, the Kent State Shootings continue to reverberate through U.S. society and culture. An example of this is Neil Young's song, "Ohio, " which commemorated the shootings.
How many National Guard soldiers were on the Kent State campus?
National Guard members arrived to reestablish order and resorted to tear gas to disperse the protesters. On May 3, approximately one thousand National Guard soldiers were on the Kent State campus. Tensions remained high, and Governor Rhodes further escalated them by accusing the protesters of being unpatriotic.
What was the most famous protest in the Vietnam War?
The most well known protest involving the Vietnam War occurred at Kent State University in Ohio in May 1970. On May 1, Kent State students held an anti-war protest. That evening several incidents occurred, including rocks and bottles being thrown at police officers and the lighting of bonfires. These incidents led to the closure of bars by authorities before normal closing time to reduce alcohol consumption. Eventually students, other anti-war activists, and common criminals began to break windows and loot stores.
WHY SHOULD WE STILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT MAY 4, 1970 AT KENT STATE?
In Robert McNamara's (1995) book, "In Retrospect:The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam" is a way to begin is an illustration of the this process. In it he says that United States policy towards Vietnam was "... terribly wrong and we owe it to future generations to explain why."
What was the impact of the shootings at Kent State University?
On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students. The impact of the shootings was dramatic. The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close. H. R. Haldeman, a top aide to President Richard Nixon, suggests the shootings had a direct impact on national politics. In The Ends of Power, Haldeman (1978) states that the shootings at Kent State began the slide into Watergate, eventually destroying the Nixon administration. Beyond the direct effects of the May 4, the shootings have certainly come to symbolize the deep political and social divisions that so sharply divided the country during the Vietnam War era.
WHAT TYPE OF RALLY WAS HELD AT NOON ON MAY 4?
At the conclusion of the anti-war rally on Friday, May 1, student protest leaders had called for another rally to be held on the Commons at noon on Monday, May 4. Although University officials had attempted on the morning of May 4 to inform the campus that the rally was prohibited, a crowd began to gather beginning as early as 11 a.m. By noon, the entire Commons area contained approximately 3,000 people. Although estimates are inexact, probably about 500 core demonstrators were gathered around the Victory Bell at one end of the Commons, another 1,000 people were "cheerleaders" supporting the active demonstrators, and an additional 1,500 people were spectators standing around the perimeter of the Commons. Across the Commons at the burned-out ROTC building stood about 100 Ohio National Guardsmen carrying lethal M-1 military rifles.
WHO MADE THE DECISION TO BAN THE RALLY OF MAY 4?
Conflicting evidence exists regarding who was responsible for the decision to ban the noon rally of May 4. At the 1975 federal civil trial, General Robert Canterbury, the highest official of the Guard, testified that widespread consensus existed that the rally should be prohibited because of the tensions that existed and the possibility that violence would again occur. Canterbury further testified that Kent State President Robert White had explicitly told Canterbury that any demonstration would be highly dangerous. In contrast, White testified that he could recall no conversation with Canterbury regarding banning the rally.
WHY DID THE GUARDSMEN FIRE?
The most important question associated with the events of May 4 is why did members of the Guard fire into a crowd of unarmed students? Two quite different answers have been advanced to this question: (1) the Guardsmen fired in self-defense, and the shootings were therefore justified and (2) the Guardsmen were not in immediate danger, and therefore the shootings were unjustified.
WHAT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHOOTINGS?
While debate still remains about the extent to which the Guardsmen's lives were in danger at the moment they opened fire, little doubt can exist that their lives were indeed at stake in the immediate aftermath of the shootings. The 13-second shooting that resulted in four deaths and nine wounded could have been followed by an even more tragic and bloody confrontation. The nervous and fearful Guardsmen retreated back to the Commons, facing a large and hostile crowd which realized that the Guard had live ammunition and had used it to kill and wound a large number of people. In their intense anger, many demonstrators were willing to risk their own lives to attack the Guardsmen, and there can be little doubt that the Guard would have opened fire again, this time killing a much larger number of students.
WHAT WAS THE LONG-TERM FACULTY RESPONSE TO THE SHOOTINGS?
Three hours after the shootings Kent State closed and was not to open for six weeks as a viable university. When it resumed classes in the Summer of 1970, its faculty was charged with three new responsibilities, their residues remaining today.
What did the Kent State shootings do to the American people?
The Kent State shootings caused further protests nationwide, inspiring many young people to get involved in activism. The incident became a benchmark in American history that brought young people to action and launched a generation into activism.
How many college students were killed by the National Guard in Ohio in 1970?
National Guardsmen killed four college students in Ohio in 1970. On this day 47 years ago at Kent State University in Ohio, four students were killed and nine others wounded when armed members of the National Guard opened fire on a crowd of protestors.
Why did the mayor call in the National Guard?
On May 2, the mayor made the decision to call in the National Guard after hearing about threats to local businesses and rumors of radical protestors trying to destroy the city. That evening, there was a large demonstration happening on campus, and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) building was set on fire.
How many colleges were closed due to the shootings?
were forced to close when the shootings triggered a nationwide student strike. Historians estimate that about 4 million students went on strike, causing 800 institutions to close.
What happened on May 1st?
The evening of May 1, vandals damaged buildings in town, breaking windows. According to the [library chronology], the mayor of Kent "heard rumors of a radical plot, declared a state of emergency, and telephoned the governor in Columbus for assistance.". Bars were closed, and those in the street were tear-gassed by riot police.