Your place in the Universe on 1968
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Get your map!The Highlights of 1968: A Year That Shaped the Future
1968 (MCMLXVIII in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1968th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.
Is 1968 a year special to you? Discover what 1968 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1968, 1968 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1968, how old is someone born in 1968 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1968.
On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1968 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Table of contents
- What was 1968 known for ?
- Key World Leaders of 1968
- Who was the U.S. President in 1968?
- Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1968?
- Who was the Pope in 1968?
- 1968: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
- What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1968?
- What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1968?
- What was the most popular movie in 1968?
- What was the best selling book in 1968?
- How old is someone born in 1968?
- What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1968?
What was 1968 known for ?
- 1968 was a highly turbulent year. To paraphrase Bob Dylan, the times were indeed changing. Even with the major political turbulence, there were still a few cultural developments that would remain with the world for years.
- 1968 was the year that the first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood aired, providing a stable, warm cultural icon for generations of children. This was also the year that Planet of the Apes, starring Charlton Heston, was released in theatres. And one of the great bands of the 20th century, Led Zeppelin, performed live for the first time in October of this year. In another more mild development, Yale University announced this year that women would be admitted to the university, making it a coeducational institution.
- This year was also an important one for space exploration. 1968 saw the United States launch Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission and an important step toward the Moon landing. Apollo 8 followed not long after, when Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William A. Anders orbited the Moon. These men were the first human beings to see the far side of the Moon.
- 1968 will be mostly remembered, though, for the death of two major political figures in the United States: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Martin Luther King, a major civil rights leader in the United States, was murdered at The Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4th. In addition to mourning across America, King’s murder sparked a great deal of civil unrest in an already tense environment.
- Robert F. Kennedy, brother of assassinated president John F. Kennedy, was a U.S. Senator from New York and was a presidential candidate in the Democrat Party. While campaigning for his party’s nomination in Los Angeles, California, Kennedy was shot on the evening of June 5th. He succumbed to his wounds on June 6th.
- The world population in 1968 was 3,551,599,127 people according to data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. This figure includes both urban and rural populations. The urban population at that time accounted for 36.0% of the total population, which is roughly 1.3 billion individuals.The annual population change in 1968 was an increase of +72.7 million people, representing a percentage increase of +2.09% over the previous year.The average population density in 1968 was 15 persons per square mile (or 24 persons per square kilometer).
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Key World Leaders of 1968
Who was the U.S. President in 1968?
In 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson (Democrat) was the President of the United States. His term spanned from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969. During his presidency, he passed landmark civil rights legislation and launched the Great Society programs aimed at eliminating poverty.
Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1968?
In 1968 the UK Prime Minister was Harold Wilson (Labour). His administration brought about major social reforms, including the legalization of abortion and homosexuality, and led Britain through economic challenges.
Who was the Pope in 1968?
The leader of the Catholic Church in 1968 was Pope St Paul VI who had held the papacy since 1963. During his papacy, he concluded the Second Vatican Council and issued *Humanae Vitae*, reaffirming the Church's stance on birth control.
1968: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
The Apollo 8 astronauts
In 1968, The Apollo 8 astronauts was named by TIME magazine as Person of the Year. In 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 (William Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell) became the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit, orbiting the Moon and paving the way for the first manned Moon landings in 1969.
What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1968?
The number 1 song in the USA in 1968, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Hey Jude by The Beatles
What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1968?
The number 1 song in the UK in 1968, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Those Were The Days by Mary Hopkin
What was the most popular movie in 1968?
The most popular movie and box office hit was 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick
What was the best selling book in 1968?
How old is someone born in 1968?
Someone born in 1968 is 57 years old this year.
Try out our age, time and generation calculators:
What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1968?
According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1968 was the Year of the Monkey.
Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Monkey sign.