1. Kent State University 4th May 1970 Learning Objectives:
To understand the main events at Kent State University.
To be aware of the impact these events had on the USA and attitudes against the war.

2. Richard Nixon In January 1969 the USA had a new President.
Friday, 09 February 2018
Richard Nixon
In January 1969 the USA had a new President.
Protests about the Vietnam War had been growing.
Therefore during his election campaign Richard Nixon had promised to end the war.
So many hoped for a change in Vietnam.
Nixon did start to bring home some soldiers which kept some Americans happy.
But he also did not want to be the first ever American President to lose a war.
So he ordered further bombing campaigns in an attempt to finally finish off the VC.
Some of these were in neighbouring Cambodia – he was widening the war.
Why might Nixon have decided to bomb Cambodia?

3. Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
On 2nd May 1970 at Kent State University in Ohio over 1,000 students began a protest.
At one point they burned down an old building that was used by the local military training corps.

4. Kent State University
In response the governor of Ohio ordered 800 National Guardsmen to enter the University.
These were armed part time soldiers who could be called upon in emergency situations.
They were ordered to ‘use every force possible’ to restore order.

5. Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
Minor confrontations continued between students and guardsmen continued for 3 days.
On 4th May about 1,000 students were protesting, some of these were actively chanting anti-war slogans, but others were curious bystanders.
The Guardsmen started to march towards them and fire tear gas canisters.

6. Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
Immediately as our peaceful anti-war rally began, approximately 75 members of the Ohio National Guard attacked....  As these guardsmen wearing helmets and gas masks marched and fired tear gas, we ran away up over "Blanket Hill" and down into the Prentice Hall dormitory's parking lot.  The armed guardsmen followed us over the hill and then settled on a practice football field for perhaps ten minutes. During this time, a stand-off occurred as a few rocks were thrown back and forth by both students and guardsmen. Because we stood hundreds of feet apart the rocks were ineffective and both sides ceased that activity.
Alan Canfora – One of the protesting students
However the guardsmen ran out of tear gas and started to retreat.
Some students were angry about the tear gas attack and followed them throwing stones.

7. Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
As some of us walked closer to shout our anti-war and anti-National Guard anger, perhaps 250-feet away, about a dozen guardsmen kneeled and aimed toward us. I stood my ground and shouted towards the armed troops who had their fingers on their rifle triggers.
What followed was a 13 second barrage of gunfire, mostly from M-1 rifles, into our crowd of unarmed students. Some other guardsmen from Company A also fired non-lethal shots.  A total of 67 bullets were fired by the guardsmen from the hilltop.
Alan Canfora – One of the protesting students
Some of the guardsmen then turned and fired into the crowd.
4 students were killed.
9 were wounded.

8. Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
Allison Krause a protester 350 feet away shot through the arm and chest
Sandy Scheuer a student walking to her next class 400 feet away -
shot through the throat
Jeff Miller a protester 275 feet away shot through the head
Bill Schroeder a student also walking between classes 400 feet away - shot in the back
All the killed and injured were hundreds of feet away from the guardsmen and posed no immediate threat to them.
Two of the students killed were protesters.
Two were innocent bystanders.

9. Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
A 14 year old girl, Mary Vecchio, ran over to help the wounded.
A photographer caught her screaming in anguish over the body of Jeff Miller.
This became a prize-winning photo that shocked America.

10. Kent State University What happened next?
Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
What happened next?
4 million students across the USA protested closing 900 campuses.
5 days later 100,000 people marched to Washington to protest.

11. Kent State University The Vietnam War was again hitting the headlines.
Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
The Vietnam War was again hitting the headlines.
Photographs of the dead and dying were again front page news.
But this time the deaths had occurred on American soil.
Life Magazine, 15th May 1970

12. “Ohio” Lyrics by Neil Young
Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
A song was recorded by Neil Young.
‘Ohio’ was released as a single and reached no14 in the charts.
Its chorus ‘Four dead in Ohio’ became an anthem for protesting students across America.
“Ohio” Lyrics by Neil Young
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, We’re finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming, Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it Soldiers are cutting us down Should have been done long ago. What if you knew her And found her dead on the ground How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago. What if you knew her And found her dead on the ground How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, We’re finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming, Four dead in Ohio. Four dead in Ohio. Four dead in Ohio…
[ fade...] …How many more…?  Why?…

13. Kent State University However not everyone defended the students.
Friday, 09 February 2018
Kent State University
However not everyone defended the students.
Some saw them as a bunch of unpatriotic trouble makers who deserved all they got.
One local politician even called the students ‘bums’ and said that he thought that more of them should have been shot.
The shootings divided opinion across the USA, but the majority of people saw the students as innocent victims.

14. Why were the Kent State University shootings so significant?
Friday, 09 February 2018
The people were used to images from Vietnam, but this time America was killing its own children on American soil.
The event went against the American democratic principle of the right of free speech and to protest.
Why were the Kent State University shootings so significant?
It led to further demonstrations and protests across the USA and around the world.
Images of the shootings were quickly transmitted around the world. International public opinion turned against the USA
It put even more pressure on President Nixon to end the War.

15. Your Task Extension Task:
Friday, 09 February 2018
Your Task
Read pages 172 – 173 and complete this task in detail:
Write a report for President Nixon on the Kent State University shootings.
Your report must include:
A detailed description of what happened.
Detail on the consequences of the shootings.
Detail on why the shootings were so important.
Mention the role of the media – eg. the photo of Mary Vecchio and Neil Young’s song Ohio.
Page
Extension Task:
Who do you think was to blame for the shootings?