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the klu klux klan
In the movie Forrest Gump claims that his mother named him after Civil war hero, Nathan Bedford Forrest. This man was the person who founded the Klu Klux Klan during the 1800's. In the movie, Forrest Gump is actually superimposed onto a picture from the movie, Birth of a Nation of Nathan Bedford Forrest.
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Elvis Presley
In the movie Elvis Presley comes to stay at the Boarding Home that the Gumps run. Young Forrest dances in a very odd way while Elvis plays the guitar.Elvis Presley was one of the greatest revolutions in Rock and Roll and Pop culture. He was known for his very suggestive dancing such as the pelvic thrust and many other similar forms of dancing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI7xvh07Jmc -
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Vietnam War
Forrest Gump enlists in the army where he is sent to the front line in Vietnam. The Vietnam War was one of the most controversial armed conflicts during the 20th century. Many people were against the war as they believed that the soldiers were only being sent to their deaths, and that the war was not very productive for the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyfPs_Uh6wE -
Desegregation of University of Alabama
Forrest was at University of Alabama that day.George Wallace blocked the door when some black students tried to sign up for the university. JFK had to send in the national guards to remove Wallace from the door.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgbNc-9Di7k -
JFK
Forrest meets JFK as an all-american with the University of Alabama football team. He later talks about JFK's murder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bE0e4Qf_GA -
The Black Panther Party
In the movie, Jenny takes Forrest Gump to a meeting of the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party was an African American revolutionary leftist organization from 1966-1982. They believed in preventing racism against blacks, and that all blacks deserved to be treated equally to whites in society.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F56O3kZ9qr0 -
First U.S. moon landing
The moon landing was shown on tv and that's also where Forrest saw it. The U.S. moon landing was a big victory for USA and NASA. They defeated USSR and showed that they were the best at technology.
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Forrest receives medal of honor
Forrest gets a medal of honor for his courage in the vietnam war. Lyndon B. Johnson gives him the medal. -
The hippie movement
After Jenny leaves Forrest, he soon finds her associating herself with the Hippie Culture in an Anti-Vietnam War rally. The Hippie movement did actually occur in the Untied States. During the mid-1960's a hippie subculture started to emerge among the youth population.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aPTP6do6Q8 -
Ping Pong Diplomacy
In the movie, Forrest Gump becomes very adept at playing ping pong. In fact, he is so good that he is asked to play on the American team against the Chinese. This is a clear parallel to the term Ping Pong Diplomacy which was used between the Americans and the Chinese.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1p78BXVIfU -
The watergate scandal
In the movie, Forrest Gump witnesses the Watergate Scandal from the Watergate hotel. The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970's which involved a break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office Complex in Washington D.C.
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Hurricane Carmen
Forrest is out sailing with the shrimp fishing boat Bubba Gump when the hurricane is raging. His boat is the only one that is left after the hurricane. Bubba gump shrimps get very popular. -
Assassination attempt on Gerald Ford
Forrest sees the murder attempt on the news. Lynette Fromme was in the crowd near the capital building and she raised her gun and pointed it at Ford. -
Apple
Lieutenant Dan invests in Apple and tells Forrest to do the same. Forrest invests in an apple computer. -
AIDS/HIV
Jenny Forrest dies due to AIDS. HIV is a virus you can live with but AIDS is deadly.
