Kent State Shootings

Introduction Overview

Allison Kraus, Jeffrey Glen Miller, Sandra Lee Scheuer, and William Knox Schroeder were innocent students who were killed in the Kent State Shootings, often referred to as the Kent State Massacre. This was a terrible tragedy involving the deaths of four anti-war students protesting the Vietnam War. This occurrence highlights the importance of many of our rights that are written in the US Constitution and raises important questions regarding those rights.

How did the Vietnam War cause riots?

During the 1950s-1970s, the Vietnam War included the North Vietnam communist government against South Vietnam, which advocated for independence. This created conflict between the two halves. The U.S became involved in the Vietnam War because they feared that communism would spread to neighboring countries. This was according to the belief that when one country falls, the others around it fall as well. The ideology behind this was known as the “Domino Theory” (Vietnam War, 2009). This is the reason why the U.S heavily funded the South Vietnamese government. When President Nixon was elected in 1968, part of his promise was to put an end to the war. In order to go through with that promise, he ordered U.S Troops to invade Cambodia. When the American public found out about this, they accused the President of illegally increasing the United States involvement in the war without the public consent through a vote. This led to many upcoming riots throughout the country, including college campus protests.

Rising Tension at Kent State

The situation quickly escalated in the United States when growing frustration increased campus riots. On May 1st, 1970, Students assembled to oppose the war after President Nixon had announced the U.S Invasion into Cambodia. Many speeches that were given targeted against the war and the Nixon administration. Some students even buried a copy of the Constitution to symbolize the murder of the governing document. This was because Congress had never declared war and that their constitutional rights were violated (Brittanica, 2026). There were many disturbances throughout the days leading up to the shootings, including gathering crowds, shattered windows, and clashes occurring between protesters and police (Louis & Henley). These events led to the burning of the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) building on campus. The purpose of this building was to house students undergoing military training. Since this building symbolized military involvement, it was made a target for the anti-war protesters who had set it on fire. The students responsible for the arson were never identified. The day after, campus officials called in the Ohio National guard in an attempt to ban further gatherings. However, this did not stop the protesters as they continued to gather. The days leading up to May 4th were very chaotic and tension between officials and students grew as riots would continue to occur.

The Shootings

Around noon on May 4th, 1970, approximately 3000 students had gathered in the commons. Shortly after, tear gas canisters were fired by the guards attempting to control the crowd. However, the gas had little effect because of the wind. About one hundred Ohio National Guardsmen stood carrying deadly M-1 military rifles. As the rally started to become more violent, protesters shouted and threw rocks while the Guard tried to disperse the crowd. Protesters walked and moved up a steep hill, which was called Blanket Hill, and back down on the other side of the hill, leading to a football field. The Guard followed, but found themselves surrounded by the fence on all sides of the field. As a result of this, they retraced their steps back up the hill and loaded their weapons. At the top of Blanket hill, twenty-eight Guards open fire. Many of them shot into the air or in the ground, but a few shot directly into the crowd. In about 13 seconds, somewhere between 61-67 shots were fired in total (May 4 Chronology). The Guardsmen fearfully retreated back to the commons where protesters, in their anger, were willing to risk their lives to attack the Guardsmen. However, campus officials dispersed the crowd and ambulances arrived at the shooting site. The university was ordered to be immediately shut down. Classes did not resume until later that summer. To this day, the answer to the question “Why did the guardsmen fire?” is still debated. The Guardsmen testified in several investigations and in federal court that they felt as if the protesters were moving in on them to pose a threat and that they felt obligated to fire in self defense. The final compensation included $675,000 to the injured students and the parents of those who were killed. This compensation was paid by the state of Ohio instead of the National Guard (May 4 Shootings at Kent State University).

Long term impact & Legacy

In honor of this tragedy, a memorial was created for the four students who were killed. It consists of a landscaped plaza and granite wall built along the entry. The words “Inquire, Learn, Reflect” are engraved into the stone as a message to inspire visitors to reflect on how differences can be resolved peacefully. The memorial includes four black disks which are embedded in the Earth lead from the plaza to four pylons to symbolize guidance and remembrance. It is a reflection of the visitor as they stand on them. There was also a fifth disc added to acknowledge the nine victims that were wounded. (May 4 Memorial (Kent State University) ). The Kent State shootings left a lasting impact on many political topics and debates in a democratic society.

Conclusion

This tragic event was a turning point in history as it re-evaluated powers between citizens and government officials. It brought up arguments about the voting age through the claim that young people were old enough to be drafted into the Vietnam War and even killed by their own military, but not old enough to vote. This played a huge role in the ratification of the 26th Amendment which lowered the voting age to 18, making it the fastest ratification in the history of America. The tragedy raised important questions about freedom of speech, civic participation, and public opinion. These are all fundamental in order to shape a future that will have a significant impact on society for generations to come.

Informative graphics

References

HISTORY.com Editors. (2025b, May 28). Kent State shooting - Causes, facts & aftermath | HISTORY. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/articles/kent-state-shooting

Wallenfeldt, J. (2026, April 27). Kent State shooting. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Kent-State-shootings

May 4 Chronology | Special Collections and Archives | Kent State University Libraries. (n.d.). https://www.library.kent.edu/special-collections-and-archives/may-4-chronology

The May 4 shootings at Kent State University: The Search for Historical Accuracy | May 4, 1970 | Kent State University. (n.d.). Kent State University. https://www.kent.edu/may-4-historical-accuracy

May 4 Memorial (Kent State University) | Special Collections and Archives | Kent State University Libraries. (n.d.- b). https://www.library.kent.edu/special-collections-and-archives/may-4-memorial-kent-state-university

HISTORY.com Editors. (2025, December 8). Vietnam War: Dates, Causes & facts | HISTORY. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/articles/vietnam-war-history

Guadalupe, G. (2020, April 17). Kent State and its Legacy of National Student Protest - ACLU of Florida. ACLU of Florida. https://www.aclufl.org/news/kent-state-and-its-legacy-national-student-protest/

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