-
Cold War (1946-1991)
Many battles and diplomatic strategies had came from the Cold War. But there wasn't an actually battle between The soviets and the US. Proxy wars such as the Korean War and Vietnam War, peace negotiations such as the ping pong diplomacy, and competitions and threats such as the space race and the arms race occurred. many of which was present in the film.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9HjvHZfCUI] -
Civil Rights Movement
A movement made to promote civil rights for African-American citizens. This movement was rooted in the beliefs of the Reconstruction era in which it was said that black slaves after freedom would be given the civil rights they deserved. It was very successful in ending racial segregation as buses, schools, and other establishments began to become desegregated. This would only be further pushed by the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ACS4PgDFA] -
Vietnam War
Forrest was drafted to the army later on for the Vietnam War. He would prove to be very useful on the battle field but tragedies would occur, like his best friend Bubba's death, and Lt. Dan's loss of his legs. This would coincide with the actual event in which America was placed into an unwinnable war on the side of the South Vietnamese against the North. Vietnam would eventually be one country once more.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e9GWdT2pEQ] -
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley sings "Hound Dog" Live on television. In the film, he uses dance moves made by Forrest.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMmljYkdr-w] -
Little Rock Nine
A group of 9 black students were prevented from entering Little Rock High School because of their complexion. Dwight D. Eisenhower had to intervene in order for them to be allowed to enter the school. Due to the Brown v. Board of Education case's ruling, black students could no longer be legally segregated in schools.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br-PF3JLgK0] -
Desegregation of University of Alabama
After the Brown v. Board of education case, Plessy v. Ferguson ruling became overturned when it comes to schools. Thus, the college Forrest attended, University of Alabama became desegregated. Around this time, tow black students came to attend the school
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1siiQelPHbQ] -
Assasination of JFK
At Dealey Plaza, president John F. Kennedy was shot in the neck and head, and the governor of Texas was shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at 1:00 pm in the Parkland memorial Hospital.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FCqjClIxuU] -
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was founded to monitor the behaviors of Oakland Police Department and challenge police brutality in Oakland, California. Forrest had run into them during Forrest and Jenny's first meeting after Forrest had gotten the medal of honor.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EukElITplo4] -
Medal of Honor
Forrest receives the medal of honor for his bravery and greatness in the war. He would be seen as a war hero. President Lyndon B. Johnson gave him the award. In the real world, Forrest would be most similar to a man named Samuel L. Davis, and he was awarded the medal of honor.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOWBw7muH9M] -
Moon Landing
Years after the US' loss in the space race when a Russian satellite was launched into orbit, The US sent the Apollo 11, a spacecraft that held people, to the moon. The US would make history as this would be the first human contact with the moon.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgwWycuvx-0] -
Ping Pong Diplomacy
Forrest would be taken to play against china, a communist country, in a game of ping pong. Though Forrest didn't think much of it, this was actually a diplomatic strategy made by the US to negotiate peace between the US and China.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSoFtDqpB8] -
Watergate Scandal
At Watergate hotel, Forrest had complained about people flashing lights around in one of the rooms. Little did he know that this was just Nixon's way of spying on the DNC in order to know their political strategy and counter it in the election to come.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHnmriyXYeg] -
President Nixon's Resignation
Due to the Watergate scandal, a negative atmosphere surrounded Nixon. People began to hate him. He anticipated impeachment, and in order to not have that done no him, he resigned the presidency.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOGJJ7UKFM]
