President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. The official investigation, the Warren Commission, concluded that JFK was killed by a lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald. However, the reasons behind the assassination remain a subject of debate and conspiracy theories. Several motives have been suggested including JFK’s opposition to the Vietnam War, his crackdown on the mafia, his attempts to replace FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and political enemies within the government and intelligence agencies. Additionally, the Cold War context—JFK being a powerful capitalist leader perceived as invincible—added to the political tensions. Oswald, the assassin, had communist ties and had spent time in the Soviet Union, which some speculate might have relevance. Yet, no definitive conspiracy has been proven, and motives range from personal grievances to broader political conflicts during a turbulent era in American history.

From an AP U.S. History (APUSH) perspective, JFK’s assassination is significant because it marked a traumatic turning point in American history, ending the sense of post-war optimism and leading to increased public distrust in government institutions. It also led to major changes in security protocols for protecting U.S. presidents and presidential candidates.