1968 news events

1968 was a pivotal year in world history, marked by significant events that shaped the course of politics, society, and culture. Here are some of the major news events of 1968:

Politics

• Tet Offensive (January-February): A surprise attack by North Vietnamese forces on South Vietnamese cities and military bases, marking a turning point in the Vietnam War.
• Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4): The civil rights leader was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee, leading to widespread riots and protests across the United States.
• Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (June 5): The presidential candidate was shot and killed in Los Angeles, California, after winning the California primary.
• Democratic National Convention (August): The convention in Chicago was marked by violent clashes between anti-war protesters and police, leading to a split in the Democratic Party.
• Election of Richard Nixon (November): Nixon was elected President of the United States, defeating Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey.

International Relations

• Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia (August): The Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the Prague Spring, a period of liberalization and reform in the country.
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Six-Day War in June 1967 led to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by Israel, and the conflict continued to escalate throughout 1968.
• North Korea's seizure of USS Pueblo (January): North Korean forces captured the American spy ship USS Pueblo, leading to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

Social and Cultural

• Student Protests and Riots: Protests and riots broke out on college campuses across the United States, including at Columbia University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Anti-War Movement: The anti-war movement gained momentum in the United States, with protests and demonstrations against the Vietnam War becoming more frequent and widespread.
• Feminist Movement: The feminist movement gained momentum, with the publication of Betty Friedan's book "The Feminine Mystique" and the founding of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
• Pop Culture: 1968 was a pivotal year for popular culture, with the release of iconic albums such as The Beatles' "The White Album" and The Doors' "Waiting for the Sun".

Science and Technology

• Apollo 7 Mission (October): The first manned Apollo mission was launched, marking a major milestone in the United States' space program.
• First Heart Transplant (December): South African cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first human-to-human heart transplant, a groundbreaking medical procedure.

These are just a few of the many significant news events of 1968. It was a year marked by turmoil, upheaval, and transformation, with far-reaching consequences for politics, society, and culture.