1968

A year of assassination, revolution, and cosmic perspective—two American leaders gunned down, students worldwide challenge authority, while humanity glimpses Earth from the moon for the first time.

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🌍 Key World Events

Date	Event	Why It Matters
Jan 30	Tet Offensive begins in Vietnam	North Vietnamese launch massive surprise attack during Tet holiday, shattering U.S. claims of progress and turning American opinion against war.
Apr 4	Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis	Civil rights leader shot at age 39, sparking riots in 100+ cities and devastating Civil Rights Movement.
May 1968	Paris student riots paralyze France	Student protests and general strikes nearly topple de Gaulle’s government, symbolizing global youth rebellion.
Jun 5	Robert F. Kennedy assassinated	Presidential candidate killed hours after winning California primary, deepening America’s trauma.
Aug 20	Prague Spring crushed by Soviet invasion	Warsaw Pact tanks roll into Czechoslovakia, ending reform movement and dashing hopes for “socialism with a human face.”
Oct 2	Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico City	Government troops kill hundreds of student protesters days before Olympics, shocking international community.
Nov 5	Richard Nixon elected President	Republican wins promising “law and order” and Vietnam peace, beginning presidency that will end in Watergate scandal.

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🧪 Science & Technology

• Apollo 8 orbits moon (Dec 24) — First humans to leave Earth orbit capture iconic “Earthrise” photograph showing planet’s fragility.
• “The Mother of All Demos” (Dec 9) — Douglas Engelbart demonstrates computer mouse, hypertext, and video conferencing, previewing computing’s future.
• Intel founded (Jul 18) — Silicon Valley startup will revolutionize computing with microprocessor development.
• First 911 emergency system implemented in U.S., standardizing emergency response.

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🎨 Culture & Society

• “2001: A Space Odyssey” released — Stanley Kubrick’s visionary sci-fi masterpiece transforms cinema with groundbreaking effects and philosophical depth.
• “Planet of the Apes” becomes cultural phenomenon, reflecting Cold War anxieties through science fiction.
• Beatles release “White Album” (Nov 22) — Double album showcases group’s creative peak despite internal tensions.
• Olympic Black Power salute (Oct 16) — Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise fists during medal ceremony, protesting racial injustice.
• Hair musical opens on Broadway (Apr 29), defining counterculture with rock music and anti-establishment themes.

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👶 Notable Births

Name	Born	Legacy
Will Smith	Sep 25	Actor, rapper, and global entertainment icon.
Hugh Jackman	Oct 12	Actor known for Wolverine and musical performances.

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⚰️ Notable Deaths

• Martin Luther King Jr. (Apr 4) — Civil rights leader assassinated at age 39 in Memphis.
• Robert F. Kennedy (Jun 6) — Senator and presidential candidate assassinated at age 42 in Los Angeles.
• Helen Keller (Jun 1) — Deaf-blind author and activist who inspired millions.
• Yuri Gagarin (Mar 27) — First human in space dies in plane crash at age 34.

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📚 Quick Facts & Trivia

• Annus Horribilis: 1968 called year of “shattered dreams” as assassinations, war, and violence dominated headlines.
• Democratic Convention Chaos: Chicago convention (Aug) marred by police violence against anti-war protesters, broadcast on national TV.
• Vietnam Turning Point: Tet Offensive convinced Walter Cronkite to declare war unwinnable, reportedly prompting LBJ to say “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America.”
• May ‘68 in France: Student-worker alliance nearly overthrew government, inspiring leftist movements worldwide.
• “Earthrise” Impact: Apollo 8’s photograph of Earth from moon helped inspire environmental movement, showing planet’s isolation in space.
• My Lai Massacre (Mar 16) — U.S. soldiers kill 500+ Vietnamese civilians, though news wouldn’t break until 1969, further eroding war support.