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VIDEO/INTERACTION LINK/SONG
Elvis Presley (Hound Dog & Dancing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQ8GDBA8Is Black Panther Movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3wjBlnxNek John Lennon:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVg2EJvvlF8 WaterGate Scandal:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOGJJ7UKFM -
Ku Klux Klan
In the movie, Forrest Gump claims his mother named him after the civil war hero, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Nathan Forrest actually founded the Ku Klux Klan back in 1866 and was appointed as the first leader of the klan. The goal of the klan was to reestablish white supremacy. CITATION: History.com Staff. “Ku Klux Klan.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan#. -
Elvis Presley
In the movie, Elvis Presley stays overnight at Gump's boarding home. Young Forest dances in a funny way to Elvis playing the guitar. Although this actually didn't happen, Elvis was known for his suggestive dancing such as the pelvic thrust and other similar forms of dancing. He was one of the most famous musicians at this time, and still today. CITATION: “Elvis Presley.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/music/elvis.html. -
The Hippie Movement
In the movie, Jenny leaves Forest and joins the Hippie Culture. In the mid-1860s a hippie subculture grew very popular among youth. The hippies were well known for creating their own social groups and using drugs. The hippie community originated on college campuses and advocated nonviolence and love. CITATION:The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Hippie.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Sept. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/hippie. -
Vietnam War
In the movie, Forrest enlists in the army where he is sent to Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a war where we joined the Republic of South Vietnam to fight communism, comprised of Viet Cong. The U.S. suffered over 47,000 killed during battle, plus another 11,000 noncombat deaths, and over 150,000 were wounded and 10,000 missing. On March 29, 1973, U.S.A withdrew from Vietnam. CITATION: “Vietnam War.” HistoryNet, www.historynet.com/vietnam-war. -
Black Panther Movement
In the movie, Jenny takes Forrest to a meeting of the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The party's original goal was to protect black residents from police brutality. The Panthers eventually developed into a Marxist revolutionary group.CITATION:Duncan, Garrett Albert. “Black Panther Party.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Sept. 2016, www.britannica.com/topic/Black-Panther-Party. -
Washington D.C. Protest
In the movie, Forest arrives in Washington D.C. and is forced on stage to give a speech about the Vietnam War. A similar protest happened in 1967, where nearly 100,000 people gathered to protest against the Vietnam War. It was even cited that 50,000 of the protesters marched to the Pentagon and asked for an end to the war. CITATION: “Thousands Protest the War in Vietnam.” History.com, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thousands-protest-the-war-in-vietnam. -
John Lennon
In the movie, Forrest sits in on a television interview with John Lennon. John Lennon's first band was called The Quarrymen, but after meeting Paul McCartney and George Harrison, they created the Beatles. John Lennon was known for his rebellious nature and anti-support of the Vietnam War. John Lennon was shot by Mark David Chapman on December 8th, 1980 in his apartment. CITATION “Biography.” IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/name/nm0006168/bio. -
WaterGate Scandal
In the movie, Forest witnesses the scandal from the WaterGate Hotel. Several burglars were arrested for wiretapping phone and stealing documents in the office of the Democratic National Committee. Richard Nixon paid the burglars "hush money" to keep them quiet about what they did. When Cox refused to stop demanding the tapes, Nixon ordered that he be fired. Nixon Resigned on Aust 8th. CITATION: History.com Staff. “Watergate Scandal.”, www.history.com/topics/watergate. -
Smiley Face
In the movie, a man asks Forest for a t-shirt design. Forest then gets muddy and wipes his face with the shirt leaving a smiling face on the front. It is during the 1970's that the smiley face was invented to show a stylized representation of a smiling human face. It is also attributed with the quote "Have A Nice Day" which also became a very popular saying. CITATION: Stamp, Jimmy. www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/who-really-invented-the-smiley-face-2058483/. -
Ping Pong Diplomacy
In the movie, Forest competes in China for PIng Pong. The era of Ping-Pong diplomacy had begun 12 months earlier when the American team—in Nagoya, Japan, for the World Table Tennis Championship—got a surprise invitation from their Chinese colleagues to visit the People's Republic. The Chinese thought this would open up an alliance. Devoss, David. “Ping-Pong.” Smithsonian.com, 1 Apr. 2002, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ping-pong-diplomacy-60307544/.
