APUSH Forrest Gump Historical Timeline

Elvis Presley

1956

Forrest Gump shows Elvis Presley a dance which he took and used to preform one of his songs. Elvis Presley appeared on national television on January 28, 1956, New York for the first time. His music was in the genre of Rock and Roll which resulted in controversy.

Assassination of JFK

Nov 22, 1963

Many people admired JFK as their President. Forrest Gump in the movie mentioned the time he met JFK and how his death was tragic. This event created fear in our country as well as feeling unsafe.
(https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-f-kennedy-assassinated)
Key Concept 8.2 l C

Vietnam War

Mar 8, 1965

Forrest Gump joined the Vietnam War which showed the United States entering the war. The reason the US entered this war was to prevent the spread of communism.
(https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history)
Key Concept 8.1 ll B

Hippie Movement

1966

Forrest Gumps love, Jenny, is seen dressed as a hippie in the movie. Many people wanted to join this movement because of the horrible situations occuring in our country at that time. This movement, later on turned into an issue due to an influence on drugs.
(https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/california/articles/the-history-of-the-hippie-cultural-movement/)
Key Concept 8.3 ll A

Ping Pong Diplomacy

1971

In the movie, Forrest Gump became a famous ping pong player, like it was his natural talent once the game was shown to him. He became so famous that hes sent to China to compete. China hosted a ping-pong team from the US resulting in tensions and diplomacy between these two countries.
(https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ping-pong-diplomacy-60307544/)
Key Concept 8.1 l C

Watergate Scandal

Jun 17, 1972

In the movie, as Forrest Gump stays in the Watergate complex, he makes a call regarding flashing lights that kept him awake. This is the Watergate Scandal which was a robbery at the office of National Democratic Committee. These robbers wire-taped phones and stole documents-- this event coincidentally led to Nixon resigning.
(https://www.biography.com/news/watergate-scandal-45-years-later)
Key Concept 8.2 lll E

Arab Oil Crisis

Aug 16, 1973

An oil embargo was declared on the US by OPEC members because of the US supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War. This resulted in an increase on oil prices by the end of the embargo in 1974.
(https://www.thebalance.com/opec-oil-embargo-causes-and-effects-of-the-crisis-3305806)
Key Concept 8.2 lll

Apple Inc

Apr 1, 1976

This technological company was created by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne to sell computers. This company competed along side of Microsoft on technological innovations.

HIV

1981

In the movie, Jenny was diagnosed with HIV. Cases of HIV rose throughout US cities. This disease was not very well understood-- Treatment was attempted through mixing medications. This disease at first was only prominent in gay males.

Reagan Assassination Attempt

May 18, 1981

This event occurred on T.V. when Forrest Gump receives a call telling him his mother is dying. Someone attempted to assassinate Reagan-- But even after this attempt, Reagan was pro-gun believing people had their rights to owning guns.

Moon Landing

Jul 20, 1996

In the movie, a man landing on the moon was shown through the T.V. From the years 1850, competition sparked as countries had new technological advances- One of which landed a man on the moon seen as "next level."
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4)
Key Concept 8.1 l B

The Black Panther Party

Oct 15, 1996

In the movie, you see Jenny made friends with members of the Black Panther Party. This was an African-American organization established to promote self-defense, inspired by black-power. They provided aid to black neighborhoods but were often considered violent.
(http://web.stanford.edu/~ccarson/articles/am_left.htm)
Key COncept 8.2 III D