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Ku Klux Klan
In the movie, Forrest's mother explains to him that he was named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, founder of the KKK. The KKK was an African American hate group. The group would set fires to houses and torture/kill many blacks. They were founded in 1865 and were very evident during the civil rights movement in the 60's and are even still around today. https://youtu.be/5CTG58jIlNA -
Elvis Develops a New Dance Move
In the movie, Elvis stays in one of the rooms Forrest's mother rents out. Elvis played a song for Forrest and he danced and moved his legs and later on television Elvis was doing the same dance. This is how Elvis created his famous moves. -
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Vietnam War
Forrest Gump joined the army and fought in the Vietnam war around 1967. In the movie, the war was depicted with surprise attacks, jungles, tall grass, and harsh conditions for the soldiers. This is significant because this war was very difficult and the US lost. This war led to many protests and counterculture in the US.
https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/world/vietnam-war-fast-facts/index.html Song: https://youtu.be/40JmEj0_aVM?list=PLf6-wYiizn9OeMoUX_QpvHpClWuGdwn-r -
Desegregation of the University of Alabama
In the movie, Forrest witnesses the black students beginning to attend the University of Alabama. This was the school he was attending at the time. This is historically significant because it was a step towards ending segregation in universities and other schools. This was an example of the Brown vs. Board of Education being enforced. http://www.pbs.org/beyondbrown/history/fullhistory.html -
JFK is Assassinated
In the movie, Forrest speaks of JFK being shot. JFK was the US president from 1961 to 1963 when he was assassinated. He was the president during the bay of pigs and he created the new frontier programs in hopes of helping the US. He was shot and killed during a parade in 1963. Video: blob:https://www.history.com/a082eec1-10f1-404d-b448-7661e13cff33 -
Forrest Meets JFK
Forrest meets president JFK in the movie for being an all American football player with the rest of his team. They were honored at the white house for being the best in their particular sport. JFK served as the 35th president of the US. Later he was assassinated. -
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The Hippie Movement
After Forrest returns home there is a big movement against the Vietnam war he is swept into. During this time there was many different counterculture views and events going on. Many people disagreed with the Vietnam war and did not support it. Many held protests against it. These people were against traditional views and beliefs. This is also the time when more drugs were introduced and used. https://vietnamartwork.wordpress.com/hippies-anti-war/ Video: https://youtu.be/Bk09F1fTs1E -
The Black Panther Party
Forrest meets the black panthers at a protest in Washington DC. The black panthers were an African American organization that believed in preventing racism and enforcing equal treatment for blacks, which was done violently at times. This group was very popular during the 60's when fighting for civil rights. They are known for their military posture and and expressing what they wanted. https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/ -
Moon Landing
The moon landing is portrayed on the TV while everyone is watching Forrest play ping pong in the movie. This was known as the Apollo 11 mission. This mission carried three astronauts and two of them would set foot on the lunar surface of the moon for the first time in human history. Video: https://youtu.be/xLu0Ak9Blog -
Forrest Meets Lyndon B. Johnson
Forrest is rewarded a medal of honor from the president of the US for his courage in the Vietnam war. Lyndon B. Johnson took over after the assassination of JFK and served from 1963 to 1969. Johnson designed the Great Society legislation to eliminate poverty in the US. He created a "War on Poverty" that helped many Americans rise from poverty. Video: https://youtu.be/_ANXB7SIsKY -
Ping Pong Diplomacy
Forrest is introduced to ping pong and becomes a master at it. He is invited to play in the ping pong diplomacy in China for the Americans. This led to relations that paved the way for Nixon to visit China. -
Watergate Scandal
Forrest meets Nixon for playing ping pong in the army. During his stay Nixon puts him in the Watergate complex which leads to him witnessing burglars across from his room window and calling security. This was the Watergate scandal and led to Nixon's resigning. Video: https://youtu.be/IHnmriyXYeg -
Smiley Face Shirt
In the movie, Forrest is running and is splashed with mud and a man allows him to use a shirt to wipe his face and leaves a smiley face design. Later a shirt with a smiley face was created and sold. -
Hurricane Carmen
In the move, Forrest and Lt. Dan encounter hurricane Carmen while shrimping. It destroyed a lot of the shrimping business. Hurricane Carmen was the most intense tropical storm of the 1974 hurricane season. It caused a lot of damage to its affected areas. -
Apple Inc.
In the movie, Forrest and Lt. Dan invest in Apple. This shows that technology was advancing around this time. The US was constantly making more technological improvements and creating new technology for personal use and for scientific use. https://sovietvsamerica.weebly.com/technological-advances.html
