Historical Overview

The year 1968 will ever remain significant in world history. For whatever reasons, this was the year rebellions and revolution became the order of the day across the continents of the world.

This was the year America was confronted with various challenges politically and socially. The Vietnam War was one of them. The assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King also contributed to the overall tension in the United States of America. There were many historical signposts including the hippies, the black movement and women’s liberation protests.

From Cuba in Latin America came Fidel Castro’s irresistible brand of revolution much to the discomfort of the United States of America. In Europe, the year 1968 was not any different. There was political tension in Czechoslovakia, and students’ demonstrations in France, Spain, UK, Germany, and Poland. In the Middle East, there were Palestinian guerrilla operations against Israel. Generally, tension was everywhere with strong feelings of anti- colonialism.

It was in this very year that Mexico hosted The Olympics Games. It was largely boycotted by 32 African nations in protest of South Africa’s participation. Also in Nigeria - an oil rich country - the largest black nation in the world was engulfed in a civil war that almost destroyed the country.

Beyond this pervading tension in the air, 1968 was also the year Rock & Roll became more prominent with strong political messages in its musical expression. Coincidentally, this was the year television technology was further advanced with the introduction of live transmission turning the whole world to a "global village" by beaming events live as they were happening across the globe.

"There has never been a year like 1968, and it is unlikely that there will ever be one again" (K. Mark, 1968. THE YEAR THAT ROCKED THE WORLD, (Ballantine) 2003)

Last Updated: 25 April, 2008
Edited by: webteam@gcal.ac.uk