Kent State Massacre• As we go through the information on the

Kent State massacre information, complete the following:

1.Record 3 pieces of information that you learn from the information.

2.Record 3 pieces of information that shocks/surprises you from the presentation.

3.At the end of the presentation there will be a critical thinking activity to complete.

Kent State MassacreKent State Massacre

• Occured on May Occured on May 44thth, 1970. At Kent , 1970. At Kent State University in State University in Kent, OhioKent, Ohio

• Also known as the Also known as the May 4May 4thth Massacre Massacre and the Kent State and the Kent State ShootingsShootings

What was the Kent State Massacre?What was the Kent State Massacre?• The shooting of The shooting of

unarmed college unarmed college students by the students by the Ohio National Ohio National GuardGuard

• In response to a In response to a protest against protest against the invasion of the invasion of Cambodia during Cambodia during the Vietnam Warthe Vietnam War

Leading Up to the Shootings…Leading Up to the Shootings…• On April 30On April 30thth President President

Nixon announced that Nixon announced that the military would invade the military would invade CambodiaCambodia

• The reaction of the The reaction of the students at Kent State students at Kent State was much like that of was much like that of other students around other students around the countrythe country

• Students held a protest Students held a protest on May 1, 1970 at the on May 1, 1970 at the Victory Bell on the Victory Bell on the campus of Kent Statecampus of Kent State

• Started of as a peaceful Started of as a peaceful demonstrationdemonstration

Saturday, May 2ndSaturday, May 2nd• 2000 students 2000 students

marched to the marched to the ROTC BuildingROTC Building

• Windows were Windows were broken and someone broken and someone set fire to the buildingset fire to the building

• Firemen were called Firemen were called but students attacked but students attacked the firemen/hoses the firemen/hoses

• Police surrounded Police surrounded the building and used the building and used tear gas to disperse tear gas to disperse the studentsthe students

Sunday, May 3rdSunday, May 3rd• Kent State was fully occupied by the Kent State was fully occupied by the

Ohio National GuardOhio National Guard• The governor of Ohio, James Rhodes, The governor of Ohio, James Rhodes,

gave a speech on campus saying that gave a speech on campus saying that they would use whatever force needed they would use whatever force needed to drive the protesters out of Kentto drive the protesters out of Kent

• The National Guard was told they The National Guard was told they could shoot if it was necessarycould shoot if it was necessary

Monday, May 4thMonday, May 4th• General Canterbury General Canterbury

ordered the guard ordered the guard back because the back because the crowd had been crowd had been disperseddispersed

• As Troop G was As Troop G was retreating about a retreating about a dozen or so soldiers dozen or so soldiers turned and fired their turned and fired their guns into the crowd in guns into the crowd in the parking lotthe parking lot

• 67 shots in 13 67 shots in 13 seconds; 9 injured seconds; 9 injured and four dead and four dead

The AftermathThe Aftermath• Hundreds of Hundreds of

universities, colleges, universities, colleges, and high schools shut and high schools shut down due to a nation down due to a nation wide strike of studentswide strike of students

• The shootings have The shootings have become a symbol of become a symbol of the Vietnam War the Vietnam War protestsprotests

• Crosby, Stills, Nash Crosby, Stills, Nash &Young wrote “Ohio” &Young wrote “Ohio” which was a response which was a response to the Kent State to the Kent State MassacreMassacre

Kent St Critical Thinking Activity• On the back of your paper from today,

respond to the following prompt in at least a ½ page:

• Do you think the Ohio National Guard was justified (right) in using force against the protesting students at Kent St? Why or why not? How else could have the Ohio governor handled the situation to ensure a more peaceful ending?

Kent State Memorial