Kent State Massacre
(Social)
What is it?
The Kent State Massacre was when the National Guardsmen opened fire on a crowd of student antiwar protesters at Ohio's Kent State University. This resulted in the death of four students and the wounding of eight others. President Nixon publicly deplored the actions of the Guardsmen, but cautioned "...when dissent turns to violence it invites tragedy." Several of the protesters had been hurling rocks and empty tear gas canisters at the Guardsmen. The protests from the students at Kent State were caused when president Richard Nixon announced that 150,000 more soldiers were going to be needed into the war for the invasion of Cambodia. Students were outraged and showed it by setting fire to the ROTC building which resulted in the governor of Ohio sending 900 National Guardsmen to the campus. When the National Guardsmen started fire on the students this caused a major upset throughout the entire country.
Why is this important?
This is important because the students were just protesting in what they believed was right. The National Guardsmen were at fault with this situation when they killed four students and wounded eight of them. This was unacceptable because the students were not carrying any guns so why would the National Guardsmen open fire on them? It just doesn't make any sense. This symbolized a time when the government thought they had too much control over the population when really the Civil Rights Movement and the laws previously passed protected the rights of the citizens and should of allowed them to protest instead of being shot. The worst part about the situation was that President Richard Nixon didn't believe the National Guardsmen did anything wrong when in reality they did.
Is this progress?
This is not a progress because four students were shot and eight were wounded. The National Guardsmen killed innocent people that were broadcasting their beliefs to the public to make a statement. They were not threatening anyone in any way so why did the government shoot them? This does not show progress because innocent students were shot and the President did not believe the National Guardsmen did anything wrong. In reality they should have been thrown off the National Guard.
Leading to...
The Kent State Massacre helps lead to where history is today because with all of the experiences in history the world has learned from its mistakes. With the shooting the government has set up certain protocols when there is a protesting group and the National Guardsmen have learned not to kill any of the protestors for bringing attention to what they believe in. The Massacre at Kent State has taught the government that more control over weapons was necessary and if any of the National Guardsmen killed any innocent person in the world today, then there would be punishment given. It wouldn't matter if it was an accident or not, they still killed innocent people and it is horrible that in the past they got away with it. History in the past has helped shape the world today because new laws have been formed and incidents from the past have modified to world to what it stands as today. History is a history of progress.
The Kent State Massacre was when the National Guardsmen opened fire on a crowd of student antiwar protesters at Ohio's Kent State University. This resulted in the death of four students and the wounding of eight others. President Nixon publicly deplored the actions of the Guardsmen, but cautioned "...when dissent turns to violence it invites tragedy." Several of the protesters had been hurling rocks and empty tear gas canisters at the Guardsmen. The protests from the students at Kent State were caused when president Richard Nixon announced that 150,000 more soldiers were going to be needed into the war for the invasion of Cambodia. Students were outraged and showed it by setting fire to the ROTC building which resulted in the governor of Ohio sending 900 National Guardsmen to the campus. When the National Guardsmen started fire on the students this caused a major upset throughout the entire country.
Why is this important?
This is important because the students were just protesting in what they believed was right. The National Guardsmen were at fault with this situation when they killed four students and wounded eight of them. This was unacceptable because the students were not carrying any guns so why would the National Guardsmen open fire on them? It just doesn't make any sense. This symbolized a time when the government thought they had too much control over the population when really the Civil Rights Movement and the laws previously passed protected the rights of the citizens and should of allowed them to protest instead of being shot. The worst part about the situation was that President Richard Nixon didn't believe the National Guardsmen did anything wrong when in reality they did.
Is this progress?
This is not a progress because four students were shot and eight were wounded. The National Guardsmen killed innocent people that were broadcasting their beliefs to the public to make a statement. They were not threatening anyone in any way so why did the government shoot them? This does not show progress because innocent students were shot and the President did not believe the National Guardsmen did anything wrong. In reality they should have been thrown off the National Guard.
Leading to...
The Kent State Massacre helps lead to where history is today because with all of the experiences in history the world has learned from its mistakes. With the shooting the government has set up certain protocols when there is a protesting group and the National Guardsmen have learned not to kill any of the protestors for bringing attention to what they believe in. The Massacre at Kent State has taught the government that more control over weapons was necessary and if any of the National Guardsmen killed any innocent person in the world today, then there would be punishment given. It wouldn't matter if it was an accident or not, they still killed innocent people and it is horrible that in the past they got away with it. History in the past has helped shape the world today because new laws have been formed and incidents from the past have modified to world to what it stands as today. History is a history of progress.