may 4, 1970, why did the national guard open fire on and kill four kent state students? course hero

by Dr. Newton Kutch II 5 min read

Four Kent State University students were killed and nine were injured on May 4, 1970, when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War. The tragedy was a watershed moment for a nation divided by the conflict in Southeast Asia.

Full Answer

Why did the National Guard fire on the Kent State students?

Mar 03, 2010 · On May 4, 1970, in Kent, Ohio, 28 National Guardsmen fire their weapons at a group of anti-war demonstrators on the Kent State University campus, killing four students, wounding eight, and ...

What happened at Kent State University 1970?

The Kent State shootings, also known as the May 4 massacre and the Kent State massacre, were the killings of four and wounding of nine other unarmed Kent State University students by the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970 in Kent, Ohio, 40 mi (64 km) south of Cleveland.The killings took place during a peace rally opposing the expanding involvement of the Vietnam War into …

What were the Kent State shootings?

May 04, 1970 · Four Kent State University students were killed and nine were injured on May 4, 1970, when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War. The ...

What happened to the Ohio National Guardsmen involved in Kent State?

May 04, 2016 · On this day: Four killed in Kent State shooting 02:01. On May 4, 1970, after days of unrest over America's invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, student protesters at Kent State University ...

What was the response to the deaths at Kent State?

The best-known popular culture response to the deaths at Kent State was the protest song " Ohio " , written by Neil Young for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. They promptly recorded the song, and preview discs ( acetates) were rushed to major radio stations, although the group already had a hit song, " Teach Your Children ", on the charts at the time. Within two and a half weeks of the Kent State shootings, "Ohio" was receiving national airplay. Crosby, Stills, and Nash visited the Kent State campus for the first time on May 4, 1997, where they performed the song for the May 4 Task Force's 27th annual commemoration. The B-side of the single release was Stephen Stills' anti-Vietnam War anthem "Find the Cost of Freedom".

Where was the Kent State shooting?

The Kent State shootings, also known as the May 4 massacre and the Kent State massacre, were the killings of four and wounding of nine other unarmed Kent State University students by the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970 in Kent, Ohio, 40 miles south of Cleveland. The killings took place during a peace rally opposing the expanding involvement ...

What did Rhodes call the student protesters?

He called the student protesters un-American, referring to them as revolutionaries set on destroying higher education in Ohio.

Who led the attack on the National Guard?

Many faculty members, led by geology professor and faculty marshal Glenn Frank, pleaded with the students to leave the Commons and to not give in to violent escalation:

What happened to the Kent 25?

In September 1970, twenty-four students and one faculty member, identified from photographs, were indicted on charges connected either with the May 4 demonstration or with the one at the ROTC building fire three days before; they became known as the "Kent 25". The Kent Legal Defense Fund was organized to provide legal resources to oppose the indictments. Five cases, all related to the burning of the ROTC building, went to trial: one non-student defendant was convicted on one charge and two other non-students pleaded guilty. One other defendant was acquitted, and charges were dismissed against the last. In December 1971, all charges against the remaining twenty were dismissed for lack of evidence.

Where was the tape of the shootings?

In 2007 Alan Canfora, one of the wounded students, located a static-filled copy of an audio tape of the shootings in a Yale library archive. The original 30-minute reel-to-reel audio tape recording was made by Terry Strubbe, a Kent State communications student who turned on his recorder and put its microphone in his dormitory window overlooking the campus. At that time, Canfora asserted that an amplified version of the tape reveals the order to shoot, "Right here! Get Set! Point! Fire!". Lawrence Shafer, a guardsman who admitted he fired during the shootings and was one of those indicted in the 1974 federal criminal action with charges subsequently dismissed, told the Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier newspaper in May 2007: "I never heard any command to fire. That's all I can say on that." Referring to the assertion that the tape reveals the order, Shafer went on to say, "That's not to say there may not have been, but with all the racket and noise, I don't know how anyone could have heard anything that day." Shafer also said that "point" would not have been part of a proper command to open fire.

What is the song "Volunteers" about?

Part 1 of the song was written in response to the story of Weather Underground member Diana Oughton, and part 2 is a response to the Kent State shootings.

How many Kent State University students died in the Vietnam War?

Four Kent State University students were killed and nine were injured on May 4, 1970, when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War. The tragedy was a watershed moment for a nation divided by the conflict in Southeast Asia. In its immediate aftermath, a student-led strike forced ...

What happened to the students at Kent State University?

Four Kent State University students were killed and nine were injured on May 4, 1970, when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War. The tragedy was a watershed moment for a nation divided by the conflict in Southeast Asia. In its immediate aftermath, a student-led strike forced the temporary closure of colleges and universities across the country. Some political observers believe the events of that day in northeast Ohio tilted public opinion against the war and may have contributed to the downfall of President Richard Nixon.

What happened on May 2nd?

The following day, Saturday, May 2, there were rumors that radicals were making threats against the town of Kent and the university. The threats reportedly were primarily made against businesses in the town and certain buildings on campus.

What did General Canterbury order his men to do?

General Canterbury ordered his men to lock and load their weapons, and to fire tear gas into the crowd. The Guardsmen then marched across the Commons, forcing protesters to move up a nearby hill called Blanket Hill, and then down the other side of the hill toward a football practice field.

Why was Nixon elected?

In fact, President Richard M. Nixon had been elected in 1968 due in large part to his promise to end the Vietnam War. And, until April 1970, it appeared he was on the way to fulfilling that campaign promise, as military operations were seemingly winding down.

What happened at Kent State University in 1970?

Some testified during the investigation that they felt they were being surrounded, and their lives were in danger. A scene from the May 4, 1970 protest at Kent State Univeristy in Ohio in which four students were killed by National Guard troops. CBS.

What happened on May 4, 1970?

On May 4, 1970, after days of unrest over America's invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, student protesters at Kent State University clashed with Ohio National Guardsmen. The guardsmen opened fire, killing four students and wounding nine others. "Some people here believe the Guard, under the pressure of a rock throwing attack, ...

What happened to the tear gas canisters?

After repeated warnings to disperse, tear gas canisters were fired into the crowd. A group of students began throwing the tear gas, as well as rocks and sticks, back at the guardsmen. "A few kids were throwing sticks and stones, but that was only a handful, not more than ten, fifteen," one student told CBS News.

What happened to the Kent State University shootings?

JERRY M. LEWIS and THOMAS R. HENSLEY. On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students. The impact of the shootings was dramatic. The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close.

What was the impact of the shootings on the US?

H. R. Haldeman, a top aide to President Richard Nixon, suggests the shootings had a direct impact on national politics.

Why was Nixon elected president?

Richard Nixon was elected president of the United States in 1968 based in part on his promise to bring an end to the war in Vietnam. During the first year of Nixon's presidency, America's involvement in the war appeared to be winding down.

What happened at Kent State University in 1970?

The tragic events that occurred at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, in which the Ohio National Guard killed four students and wounded nine other students, had an enduring affect that has resonated for more than 50 years.

When was Kent State University founded?

Since its founding as a teacher-training school in 1910, Kent State has become an engine for economic, cultural and workforce development in the region and beyond as a premiere university in Ohio.

What happened on May 4, 1970?

Historical Accuracy. On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students. The impact of the shootings was dramatic.

What was the impact of the tragic events of May 4, 1970?

In the ensuing years, Kent State's learning community has honored the memories of Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder with an enduring dedication to scholarship that seeks to prevent violence and promote democratic values from public service to civil discourse.

What was the impact of the shootings on the US?

The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close. H. R. Haldeman, a top aide to President Richard Nixon, suggests the shootings had a direct impact on national politics. The Search for Historical Accuracy.