1968 Key Events Timeline and Cultural Impact

1968 Key Events and Cultural Impact

15th: Jeanett Rankin leads a Women’s March on Washington to protest the Vietnam War, emphasizing women’s roles in activism.
20th: The first nationally televised college basketball game takes place from the Astrodome, Houston winning 71 - UCLA 69. This marks a significant moment in sports broadcasting.
23rd: North Korea seizes the USS Pueblo, highlighting tensions between the U.S. and North Korea.
30th: The Tet Offensive begins, marking a pivotal point in the Vietnam War and influencing public opinion.

1st: Tragic death of Memphis sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker, emphasizing labor issues and safety in the workplace.
8th: Police open fire on protestors at a segregated bowling alley in Orangeburg, SC, resulting in 3 deaths and 27 injuries, spotlighting racial tensions in America.
27th: Walter Cronkite's report on the Tet Offensive asserts the impossibility of winning the Vietnam War, advocating for negotiation; this changes public sentiment.
The Kerner Commission releases a report stating that race riots indicate a division into "two societies"—one black and one white—pointing to systemic racism.

5th: The “Prague Spring” begins in Czechoslovakia, representing a challenge to Soviet control and a movement for liberal reform.
12th: New Hampshire primary serves as a significant early indicator in the Democratic nomination process.
16th: Robert F. Kennedy announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, capitalizing on public discontent.
31st: President Johnson announces that he will not seek re-election, a major political shift amidst the civil and anti-war movements.

4th: Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis leads to widespread riots in over 100 U.S. cities, heightening tensions regarding race and civil rights.
11th: President Johnson signs the Fair Housing Act to combat discrimination in housing.
23rd: Columbia University students occupy buildings in protest of the Vietnam War, symbolizing student activism.

6th: Riots between police and students in Paris indicate global unrest, with similar events occurring across Europe.
10th: Peace talks for the Vietnam War commence in Paris, a crucial step toward de-escalation.
17th: Protestors in Maryland burn draft files, showcasing opposition to conscription and the Vietnam War.

4th: Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, shocking the nation and impacting the election.
19th: The Poor People’s Campaign brings 50,000 protestors to Washington, D.C. advocating for economic equality.

1st: President Johnson signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to limit nuclear arms proliferation, marking a step in international diplomacy.
20th: The first Special Olympics are held in Chicago, promoting inclusivity in sports.
23rd: The “Glenville Shootout” in Cleveland results in deaths, highlighting ongoing racial and societal tensions.

5-8: Republican National Convention nominates Richard Nixon for President, setting the stage for the general election.
20th: The Soviet Union invades Czechoslovakia, crushing the Prague Spring reforms and demonstrating the authoritarian grip of the USSR.
28th: Police clash with protestors at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, igniting public outrage, especially with the “police riot” seen on television. Hubert H. Humphrey is nominated amidst the chaos.

7th: Feminists protest the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, symbolizing the growing women’s rights movement.
Debut of “60 Minutes” on CBS, which would become a significant news program in American media history.

2nd: Mexican police fire on students in Mexico City, resulting in numerous casualties, indicating global youth unrest.
16th: Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise the “Black Power” salute during their Olympic Medal ceremony, making a political statement on racial injustice.

5th: Richard Nixon narrowly defeats Hubert Humphrey, one of the closest presidential elections in history, indicating political divides.
5th: Shirley Chisolm becomes the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, breaking significant racial and gender barriers.
12th: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that an Arkansas law prohibiting the teaching of Evolution violates the First Amendment, highlighting issues of education and religious freedom.

9th: The first computer mouse and word processor are demonstrated at a San Francisco convention, indicating technological advancements.
21-27: Apollo 8 becomes the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon, a monumental achievement in space exploration.
23rd: Crew of the USS Pueblo is released by North Korea, concluding a significant international incident.