Forrest Gump Video Guide – 50 events from history

Peter Sorini USH 3/24

Background: The 1994 film Forrest Gump (based on the 1986 novel) is a fictional account of a journey through major events of U.S.
history, primarily the ‘50s, ‘60s, & ‘70s. Below are 50 topics that cross Forrest’s path, listed in the order of appearance. Some
questions are not directly answered in the film and may require research. Four answers are modeled. Use 2-3 sentences per answer.
1) Nathan Bedford Forrest – Forrest was named after the confederate general who founded the Ku Klux Klan (1865). What was the KKK and when were they active? The
KKK was active in the late 1860s, 1920s, and in the 1960s
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2) Elvis Presley – Forrest’s mom hosted travelers, including Elvis Presley. In what ways did he change American music and pop culture? Elvis Presley was the one who
transitioned music into the age of rock and roll and he made it all about the performance.
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3) Nuclear Family – Baby Boomers grew up post-WWII. Forrest (single mom) & Jenny (abusive father) are anomalies of ‘50s traditional family paradigms. How? Forrest and
Jenny show exceptions when it comes to the social expectations.
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4) Confederate Flag – Forrest runs from bullies with confederate flag plates. This is common in the South as a cultural symbol. How might the flag send mixed messages? It is a
pro-slavery symbol as well as symbol of southern heritage/pride.
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5) Alabama Football – Forrest joins an all-white Alabama Football team with legendary coach Bear Bryant. What finally changed segregated college football?
An integrated USC team beat all-white Alabama 42-21 in a 1970 game. All TDs were by black players. It was said USC did more to integrate AL in 1 hour than MLK did in 20 years.

6) George Wallace - Forrest picks up a book for a “colored” student attempting to attend Alabama. George Wallace is mentioned. What is his legacy?
Governor Wallace famously said, ”…segregation now, tomorrow, & forever”. He was willing to challenge JFK and keep Alabama segregated.

7) Joan Baez – …often sang with other folk & rock legends (Guthrie, Dylan, Beatles, Simon, Stones). How does folk music play a larger historical role than other music genres?
Folk singers tell stories, usually about society, history or social issues. Baez was performed during arguably the most pivotal decades of U.S. History (e.g. 1960s)
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8) President John F. Kennedy – As an All-American athlete, Forrest meets President Kennedy, then mentions his death. What is JFK’s presidential legacy? JFK’s legacy
includes a speech in Berlin, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and working toward Civil Rights legislation before his assassination in 1963.
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9) Robert Kennedy – Forrest mentions that JFK’s brother was killed. Who was Robert Kennedy and why was he (and his death) significant to U.S. history? Many believed that
Bobby Kennedy would become president since LBJ announced that he would not seek reelection. Because of his death, Nixon was able to become president in
1968.
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10) Military Service – Forrest volunteers for the army. Why was this common in the G.I. generation (born 1900-20), but not among Forrest’s Silent Generation (born 1920-40)?
The G.I. Generation, a.k.a. the Greatest Generation, are remembered for their collective efforts in WWII. But the Silent Generation fought in less-popular wars
(Korea, Vietnam)
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11) Military Draft – Bubba mentions that he was drafted into the army. Why did the government reestablish a draft during this time? The government initiated the draft for the
growing conflict in Vietnam. LBJ raised troop levels above 500,000 before leaving office.
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12) Segregated busses – Forrest boards a racially integrated military bus. How is this related to Truman’s 1948 Executive Order 9981 or the Montgomery Bus Boycott (56)?
Truman’s executive order ended military segregation. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a catalyst for the Civil Rights movement and ending Jim Crow
segregation.
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13) Slavery – Bubba comes from a long line of house servants and house slaves. How has each generation leading up to Bubba improved (or failed to improve)? – Bubba comes
from a long line of house servants and house slaves. How has each generation leading up to Bubba improved (or failed to improve)?
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14) Beatniks – In Jenny’s first stage performance in Memphis, Tennessee, she was introduced as a “beatnik”. Who were the beatniks of the 1950s? The Beatniks or ‘Beats’ were
the counter-culture of the 1950s, and were known for their lyric poetry, jazz, and rejection of mainstream American culture.
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15) Bob Dylan – Jenny chooses the stage name “Bobby Dylan”. What is the legacy of folk singer Bob Dylan? Bob Dylan was often called “the voice of a generation”. Rolling
Stone Magazine named him the #2 greatest artist in music history (behind the Beatles).
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16) Vietnam War – Forrest was sent to Vietnam. What did U.S. involvement there have to do with domino theory, containment policy, and the Cold War? The Vietnam War was a
Cold War theater. The U.S. went there to contain the spread of communism (Containment Policy) and stop the falling dominoes of communism (Domino Theory)
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17) U.S. Imperialism – Bubba tells of plans for shrimping (and other U.S. business) in Vietnam after the war. What does this have to do with the history of U.S. Imperialism? The
United States has long been known to seek markets around the world, particularly in developing nations in Asia (since William McKinley) & in Latin America (since
Teddy Roosevelt)
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18) Revolutionary War – A relative of Lt. Dan died in the Revolutionary War. Causes of, details about, & consequences of the Revolutionary War included: The Revolutionary
War was caused by high taxes, a lack of colonial voice in England. The Colonies fought for independence, resulting in the establishment of the United States.
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19) Civil War – A relative of Lt. Dan died in the Civil War. Causes of, details about, and consequences of the American Civil War included: The Civil War was caused by
differing views over states’ rights and slavery. It was fought between North and South over 4 years, resulting in a North victory and a reunited nation.
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20) World War One – A relative of Lt. Dan died in WWI. Reasons for, details about, and consequences of U.S. involvement in World War One included: WWI was caused by
complicated alliance systems, nationalism, and assassination. The U.S. got involved because of the Zimmerman Note and German submarine warfare against them
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21) World War Two – A relative of Lt. Dan died in WWII. Reasons for, details about, and consequences of U.S. involvement in World War Two included: WWII was caused by
fascist nations trying to conquer. It featured two main theaters (Europe and the Pacific) resulting in an Allied victory (Soviets, Americans, Brits and others)
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22) “Charlie” – This was of course a nickname for something or someone in the context of the Vietnam War. What, exactly? The U.S. Enemy in the Vietnam War was
the communist North Vietnamese. North Vietnamese insurgents in South Vietnam were called the Vietcong or “Charlie”.
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23) Cu Chi Tunnels – A scene shows Forrest going head-first into an underground tunnel. This was a reference to the Cu Chi Tunnels. These Tunnels were: The tunnels were a
series of underground hideouts for the Vietcong (North Vietnamese communist insurgents in South Vietnam). Forrest was a ‘tunnel rat’ going in to investigate.
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24) Hippies – As Forrest writes to Jenny, a scene features her transition to the Hippie Counterculture. The Hippies were:The Hippies were the counterculture of the 1960s.
Many rejected mainstream society, questioned government, protested war, listened to rock music and practiced drug use
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25) Napalm - Lt. Dan orders napalm strikes. Napalm (a flammable gel) & Agent Orange (an herbicide) were used to destroy Vietnamese forests. Why were they so controversial?
Napalm and Agent Orange were both used to kill forests (burning or poisoning). Agent Orange in particular is known to have lasting effects on people (cancer,
birth defects, etc.)
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Forrest Gump Video Guide – 50 events from history

Background: The 1994 film Forrest Gump (based on the 1986 novel) is a fictional account of a journey through major events of U.S.
history, primarily the ‘50s, ‘60s, & ‘70s. Below are 50 topics that cross Forrest’s path, listed in the order of appearance. Some
questions are not directly answered in the film and may require research. Four answers are modeled. Use 2-3 sentences per answer.

26) Ice Cream – Forrest was eating ice cream while recovering from his wounds. How historically accurate is this?
The United States installed a number of ice cream plants in South Vietnam. This was to improve the morale of troops.

27) President Lyndon B. Johnson – Forrest met with Johnson for his service in Vietnam. LBJ has a positive domestic legacy (e.g. Civil Rights), but not with foreign policy. Why?
LBJ’s domestic legacy is very positive (Civil Rights legislation, the Great Society, etc.), but his foreign policy is disastrous (escalating the Vietnam War to
unprecedented levels)
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28) Anti-war protests – Forrest is in an anti-war protest in D.C. How might protests have influenced the Vietnam War? The increased
protests against the war encouraged politicians to have platforms that included plans to get out of Vietnam. Nixon for example
campaigned with this promise.
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29) Black Panthers – Forrest stumbles into a Black Panther Party gathering with Jenny. Who were the Black Panthers? – Forrest stumbles into a Black Panther Party
gathering with Jenny. Who were the Black Panthers?
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30) SDS – Jenny’s boyfriend was with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). These activists promoted socialism. How does this fit in the context of the Cold War (45-91)? The
Cold War was an ideological struggle between capitalism and communism. A socialist group like SDS was a direct challenge to America’s Cold War position.
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31) The Space Race – Forrest has the 7/20/69 moon landing on television, featuring Armstrong and Aldrin. What did this have to do with the Space Race? Since the launching
of Sputnik (1958), the Soviets had beaten the Americans to many space-race milestones. But the lunar landing was a huge victory for the Americans.
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32) Ping-Pong Diplomacy – As a Ping-Pong prodigy, Forrest is invited to play in China. How did 1971 U.S./Chinese Ping-Pong matches improve relations? When U.S. ping
pong players were invited to China, it opened an opportunity for Nixon to visit China and establish diplomatic relations, known as Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
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33) John Lennon – This notorious Beatle member was on the Dick Cavett Show with Forrest. Nixon tried unsuccessfully to deport him to England. Why was he so controversial?
Lennon was very outspoken against the U.S. government and against war (e.g. the Vietnam War).
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34) Bob Hope – Forrest and Lieutenant Dan were watching television during Christmas of 1970. What was on the television and why?
In 1970 and 1971, NBC filmed live broadcasts from Vietnam of Bob Hope and others in front of U.S. troops. This was an effort to boost troop morale.
35) Jesus Movement – Lt. Dan asks Forrest if he, “found Jesus, yet”, then complains about recent conversations on the topic. What was the Jesus Movement of the 1960s-70s?
Known as Jesus Freaks, the Jesus Movement was a sub-culture within Hippie Counterculture. It was a revival that influenced Christian culture afterward, including music.
36) Richard Nixon – Forrest met with President Nixon after his China visit. Nixon had a positive legacy in terms of foreign policy. Why? Nixon’s foreign policy is generally
seen as positive. He improved relations with the Soviets (Détente) and the Chinese (Ping-Pong Diplomacy) while getting the U.S. out of Vietnam.
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37) Watergate Scandal – Forrest phones in (what would become) the Watergate Scandal. What was the crime and how did it lead to Nixon’s resignation? The Watergate
Scandal was a break-in of the democratic national headquarters, ultimately tied to Nixon (which he tried to cover up). 38) Drug Use – Jenny is s
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 38) Drug Use – Jenny is shown partaking with various controlled substances. What did drug use have to do with the Hippies of the 1960s and 1970s? The Hippies were known
to experiment with many categories of drugs, from Marijuana, to methamphetamines, to LSD, PCP, cocaine and heroine.
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39) President Gerald Ford – Forrest’s television features a second assassination attempt on President Ford. What is President Ford’s legacy? Ford’s legacy involved ‘healing
the nation’ and restoring faith in the White House after the Watergate Scandal. His pardon of Nixon likely cost him reelection, however.
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40) Apple Computers – Forrest invests in Apple. How does Apple’s success/innovation relate to themes such as Capitalism, technology, or American Dream? In a free market,
citizens can invest wherever they choose. By buying this successful tech company stock, Forrest increased wealth, achieving the American Dream
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41) President Jimmy Carter – A news story of his collapse from heat exhaustion in Maryland is heard as Forrest begins to run. What is Carter’s legacy? Carter’s legacy
involves the Iranian Hostage Crisis, the Boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and working toward peace in the Middle East.
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42) Women’s Rights– Reporters ask Forrest about this. On the heels of Civil Rights, a reborn Women’s Movement emerged. What did they accomplish? The new wave of
Women’s Rights and feminism was able to accomplish much following the Civil Rights movement, including abortion rights & equal sports opportunities (Title IX)
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43) Environmental Rights - Reporters ask Forrest about this. On the heels of Civil Rights, a environmental movement emerged. What did they accomplish? Environmental
Rights has remained a force in American politics. In addition to drawing attention to environmental issues, the lobby to pass environmentally friendly legislation.
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44) Animal Rights - Reporters ask Forrest about this. On the heels of Civil Rights, an animal rights movement emerged. What did they accomplish? Environmental Rights has
remained a force in American politics. In addition to drawing attention to animal rights issues, the lobby to pass animal friendly legislation.
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45) The American Dream – As Forrest runs, he helps entrepreneurs with business ideas (bumper sticker, t-shirt). How does this represent capitalist America? Forrest is helping
entrepreneurs create a product that will appeal to people, allowing them to make a profit and achieve the American dream.
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46) President Ronald Reagan – Forrest’s television features an assassination attempt on President Reagan. What is Reagan’s presidential legacy? Reagan’s legacy revolves
around ending the Cold War (‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall’), and Reaganomics (trickle-down-economics) as an economic policy.
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47) AIDS – Jenny tells Forrest she’s sick with what would later be called AIDS. What does it stand for and how is it different from HIV? AIDS stands for Autoimmune Deficiency
Syndrome. AIDS describes the symptoms of HIV, which is the virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
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48) Iran-Contra Affair – Featured in the novel but not the film, Forrest is arrested for his connection to the Reagan scandal. What happened in the Iran-Contra Affair? The U.S.
was illegally selling weapons to Iran and using the money to fund anti-communists in Nicaragua
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49) Berlin Wall – Featured in the novel but not the film, Forrest punts a ball over the Berlin Wall, but jumps over to retrieve it. What exactly was the Berlin Wall? The Berlin Wall
was built in 1962 to keep citizens of the communist world (Eastern Europe) from escaping to the west via West Berlin.
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50) Postmodernism –Forrest ends by wondering if both momma (God exists) & Dan (God doesn’t exist) are right, which is a very postmodern message. What is postmodernism?
Postmodernism describes the view that tolerance and acceptance trump truth claims and truth pursuits. e.g. there is no truth, so everyone is right and no one is
right
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