The Kent State Riots

1. The Kent State Riots

2. Historical Background Of Kent State Riots

3. What was the Kent State Riot? • In May 1970, students protesting the bombing of Cambodia by United States military forces, clashed with Ohio National Guardsmen on the Kent State University campus. When the Guardsmen shot and killed four students on May 4, the Kent State Shootings became the focal point of a nation segregated by the Vietnam War.

4. Why were they rioting ? • There were numerous reasons why these protests took place. For example: 1) Prominent ones included revelations that former President Lyndon Baines Johnson had misled the American people about the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, which led to the escalation of American involvement in Vietnam in late 1964.

5. Why were they rioting? 2) The ending of college deferments, which previously had exempted most college students from the draft and service in Vietnam, further contributed to the protests. 3) Revelations that the United States military was bombing and sending troops into Cambodia, a country neighboring North and South Vietnam, and the increasing number of American casualties further angered many Americans.

6. B. What are the key historical developments in the 1960s in regards to this event? 1. In 1968 President Richard Nixon promised to end the war in Vietnam and was actively de-escalating it. 2.By April 30, 1970 the war in Vietnam expanded to include Cambodia. Pres. Nixon announces that a large amount of American troops entered Cambodia which caused anti-war sentiment to escalate. 3.May 1, 1970 student protests began at colleges all over the USA. 4. Kent State decides to hold a second rally on May 4. 5. The National Guard is called in to keep peace between May 1 and at the May 4th rally they try to disperse the crowd. 6. In the chaos, 67 shots are fired in 13 seconds killing 4 students. Kent State Riot

7. What was the outcome of this event? Directly following the event: • At the site of the shootings, ambulances arrived and medical attention was given to the students who had not died immediately • Guardsmen retreated back to the Commons, facing a large and hostile crowd. In their intense anger, many demonstrators were willing to risk their own lives to attack the Guardsmen

8. Casualty and Death Toll • This photo shows the 4 students who passed away on site at the time of the riot. These along with nine others were injured in the shooting. • Jeffrey Miller, shot in the mouth while standing in an access road leading into the Prentice Hall parking lot, about 270 feet from the Guard. • Allison Krause was in the Prentice Hall parking lot; she was 330 feet from the Guardsmen and was shot in the left side of her body. • William Schroeder was 390 feet from the Guard in the Prentice Hall parking lot when he was shot in the left side of his back. • Sandra Scheuer was about 390 feet from the Guard in the Prentice Hall parking lot when a bullet pierced the left front side of her neck.

9. Outcomes: • The University was ordered closed immediately; classes did not resume until the Summer of 1970 • H. R. Haldeman, a confidant to President Richard Nixon, suggests the shootings had a direct impact on national politics • The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close • shootings have come to symbolize the political and social divisions that split the country during the Vietnam War era.

10. The Baby Boomers impact of the conflict of the Kent State Riot

11. Military Outcome • “Kent State has become the standard from which everything else is measured. Everybody studies it. One hundred years from now, we will still be studying it. It is the perfect example of what not to do” - Sid Heal, • One of the biggest blunders ever committed by the American military. • Actions considered dramatic mistakes by trained men at arms. • event has had a permanent impact on modern crowd control methods. A revolution in mob management — rather than the sentiments of a classic rock anthem — is the true legacy of Kent State. • Today it is seen as a watershed moment in the history of crowd control and non-lethal tactics.

12. Civilian Outcome • Today, this incident is seen as the moment the free-spirited idealism of the Sixties collided head-on with the state. • Today crowd control begins with pre-planning. • Preparations for major events (Vancouver Olympics or the G20 summit) begin months or years in advance so every possible scenario is thought out.

13. Social Outcome • currently lectures at war colleges on mobs, riots and non-lethal weapon techniques • Since1970 there have been huge innovations in crowd control equipment. • Full-face shields, body armour and batons are now standard riot gear. • U.S. military has a Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate that creates equipment and tactics that don’t kill their enemies • The modern take on crowd control is to show restraint and attempt to resolve situations with minimal force

14. References 1970., Incident, t. o., draft, w. p., Vietnam, s. i., bombing, r. t., Cambodia, s. t., et al. (n.d.). Kent State Shootings - Ohio History Central - A product of the Ohio Historical Society. Ohio History Central - An Online Encyclopedia of Ohio History - Ohio Historical Society. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1595 Arrived, t. t., students., & Satrom, s. c. (n.d.). Kent State shootings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings Lewis, J., & Hensley, T. (n.d.). THE MAY 4 SHOOTINGS AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: THE SEARCH FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY. Kent State University Departmental Site. Retrieved April 10, 2012, from http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/lewis/lew Palazzo, C. (n.d.). We Kill Our Own: The 40th Anniversary of the Kent State Massacre. Salem-News.Com. Retrieved April 10, 2012, from http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may022010/kent-state-cp.php