A look back at 1968: what was life like 50 years ago?

How the world changed 50 years ago - Have you ever wondered what the world was like five decades ago? Scientific and technological breakthroughs, as well as social and political advances marked 1968. The Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States was in full swing, the Vietnam War was still under way, and the first Boeing 747 aircraft flew for the first time. A world quite different from the one we know today, and one to remember in this gallery - take a look!

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Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. - The leader of the Civil Rights movement in the US was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968, by a man named James Earl Ray. The killer believed that Luther King was a traitor to the homeland, who moved crowds only to weaken the country economically and politically.

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Violent protests after the assassination - The murder of Martin Luther King sparked a wave of outrage and revolt like never seen before since the American Civil War. Violence took to the streets and the biggest riots took place in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, and Kansas City.

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New civil rights law - Martin Luther King Jr.'s death pressed President Lyndon Johnson to pass a new Civil Rights Act. This law complemented the previous version of 1964. This law went on to prohibit discrimination for voters and ended racial segregation in schools, blood banks, workplaces, and public places.

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Protest against the Vietnam War - On March 17, 1968, a protest against the Vietnam War was held in London, bringing together about 10,000 people. The crowd marched from Trafalgar Square to the American embassy in Grosvenor Square. The protest turned violent after police surrounded the embassy area and carried out more than 200 arrests. It is estimated that close to 100 people, including police officers, were injured.

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May in Paris - The month of May 1968 in Paris was marked by the various student protests against education reforms. These protests resulted in a general strike with more than nine million French people participating. The revolt brought together the student body and the workers of the country, which led to the resignation of then-President Charles de Gaulle.

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Tet Offensive - The Tet Offensive took place on January 30, 1968. This attack, which consisted of three phases, was launched by the North Vietnamese against the US and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War. The military campaign resulted in the deaths of about 1,100 Americans and approximately 2,900 South Vietnamese soldiers.

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Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy - In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy, the former US Attorney General, announced that he wanted to be the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. After winning a decisive election in California, Robert Kennedy was shot three times. The bullets would put an end to his dream of also becoming president of the United States, like his brother. The crime was committed on June 5 in the lobby of the Ambassador Hotel by Sirhan Sirhan.

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Mỹ Lai Massacre - Mỹ Lai is the name of the Vietnamese village that suffered the largest civilian massacre during the Vietnam War. On March 16, 1968, hundreds of civilians, mostly women and children, were executed by American soldiers. This massacre only became public a month later, when the press obtained shocking photographs of the murders. These photographs only served to pressure the US government to withdraw from Vietnam, something that would only happen in 1973.

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France Winter Olympics - In February 1968, France hosted the Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble. Norway was the country that took more medals home, with a total of 37.

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Mexico Summer Olympics - Mexico City hosted the Summer Olympics, where two African American athletes made a silent demonstration against racial discrimination in the United States. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, 200-meter athletes, raised their fists during the country's national anthem, a symbol of the Black Power ideology.

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The Beatles release the 'White Album’ - Released on November 22, 1968, the 'White Album' was given this name because it didn't have a title and because its cover was totally white. Although the album received mixed reviews, it climbed to the top of the charts in the US and the UK.

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Johnny Cash in Folsom Prision - It was in 1968 that Johnny Cash gave his famous concert at the Folsom State Prison in California. The concert resulted in one of his most successful albums.

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Movie never made - On February 1, The Doors received $500,000 from Universal Studios to produce a movie. The film was never made.

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Led Zeppelin - The famous Led Zeppelin were formed in 1968. They were formerly known as The New Yardbirds.

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Biggest hit - 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles was the greatest hit of 1968. It was number one in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain.

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Popular musicians - That year, the most popular musicians and bands worldwide included The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Bee Gees, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, and Cream.

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First interracial kiss on TV - The first interracial kiss to be broadcast on television was featured in a 'Star Trek' episode entitled 'Plato's Stepchildren.' The scene was aired on November 22, 1968, and marked a historic breakthrough against cultural barriers.

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Apollo 8 - On December 24, 1968 the Apollo 8 spacecraft became the first spacecraft with crew to orbit the Moon. Jim Lovell, Bill Anders, and Frank Borman circled the Moon ten times.

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2001: A Space Odyssey - Director Stanley Kubrick's classic was released in 1968 and remains to this day one of the most important and progressive films in history.

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Chuck Norris debut - Chuck Norris made his debut in the movie 'The Wrecking Crew,' released in 1968. He appears as an extra in one of the scenes.

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Planet of the Apes - 1968 also marks the debut of the movie 'Planet of the Apes.' The classic movie hit North America's theaters on April 3 and became one of the biggest hits of the year.

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911 - The number 911 (similar to 112 in Europe) was also created in 1968 in the United States. This was the first emergency hotline service that ran 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is still active today.

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Airbag - American Allen K Breed invented the Airbag system, one of the most important safety devices in cars to this day.

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Intel - The famous microprocessor company started in Santa Clara, California, in July 1968. Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce created Intel after receiving $2.5 million from investor and entrepreneur Arthur Rock.

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The first Big Mac - Although it was invented in 1967, the first Big Mac was only sold in the US in 1968. The hamburger that is now one of McDonald's brand images used to cost around $0.49.

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The first 747 - The famous airliner Boeing 747 was introduced that year and brought the unprecedented ability to carry more passengers than any other aircraft. With a capacity for 374 people, this plane continues to be one of the most popular planes in commercial aviation.

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Zodiac killer - 1968 was also the year in which the famous serial killer known as 'Zodiac' began his criminal activity. Between October and December, 14 victims were confirmed and he left several letters to newspapers claiming to have taken the lives of 37 people. The real killer has never been caught and this is seen as one of the 'perfect crimes' of the 20th century.

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Birth control and the curch - Pope Paul VI declared that the use of the contraceptive pill and other contraceptive methods should be prohibited by all those who considered themselves Catholics.

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China - China celebrated the 20th anniversary of the communist regime led by Mao Zedong, known as Maoism.

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Andy Warhol - On June 3, 1968, radical feminist Valerie Solanas and author of the book 'SCUM Manifesto' traveled to 'The Factory' where she fired three shots at the 'master' of Pop Art. She missed the first two shots, but the third one hit Andy Warhol in a lung. However, the artist managed to survive and some of his best work came after this incident.

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Will Smith - The popular actor was born on September 25, 1968.

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