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Period: to
1950s
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Brinks Robbery
The Brinks robbery in Boston occurs when eleven masked bandits steal $2.8 million from an armored car outside their express office. -
First Modern Credit Card
The modern payment card was created in 1950 by Ralph Schneider and Frank McNamara who founded Diners Club. -
NBC Airs Broadway
Broadway Open House is network television's first late-night comedy-variety series. It was telecast live on NBC from May 29, 1950, to August 24, 1951. -
Korean War
The Korean War began when around 75,000 North Korean soldiers invaded South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel. The United States quickly came to aid non-communist South Korea. -
Organic Act of Guam
The Organic Act of Guam and related federal laws provide the framework for the government of Guam. -
Internal Security Act
This was an Act to protect the United States against certain un-American and subversive activities by requiring registration of Communist organizations, and for other purposes. -
Peanuts
The very first Peanuts comic strip, written by Charles M. Schulz, appeared in seven newspapers on October 2, 1950. -
Truman Assassination Attempt
The second of two assassination attempts on U.S. President Harry S. Truman occurred on November 1, 1950. It was carried out by militant Puerto Rican pro-independence activists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola. -
22nd Amendment
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, limited the president to two terms. -
Catcher in the Rye
This novel was published by J.D. Salinger and focuses on the rebellious youth period. -
Hiroshima Bomb Test
After World War II, President Truman has scientists work on a hydrogen bomb for American defense. It is tested on a small island in the Pacific. -
Election of 1952
Running as a Republican, Eisenhower defeats Democrat Adlai E. Stevenson and is elected president -
Eisenhower Inauguration
Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated as the United States' 34th President. He serves for two terms. -
Discovery of DNA structure
Taken in 1952, this image is the first X-ray picture of DNA, which led to the discovery of its molecular structure by Watson and Crick -
Rosenburgs Execution
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American citizens who were accused and convicted of spying on behalf of the Soviet Union. Their penalty was death. -
Color Televisions
The first colored televisions go on sale. This was through the NTSC system and was used on a 15 inch screen. -
The Tournament of Roses Parade
From East to West coast, this parade become the first national televised colored event. This was absolutely remarkable at the time. -
Polio Vaccination
The first large scale vaccination of children against polio begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.This was invented by Jonas Salk. -
Domino Theory
President Eisenhower makes the claim that if one country fell to communism, they all would. This is considered the "Domino Theory". -
Mccarthy's Hearing
The nationally televised Army-McCarthy hearings begin on national television. They continue for more than a month, ending in McCarthy's disgrace. -
Saint Lawrence Seaway Act
This permits the construction of the system of locks, canals, and channels that permits ocean-going vessel to travel from Ocean to the Great Lakes. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Official Court rulings by Chief Warren calls for immediate desegregation of the South. He calls it unconstitutional and demands it be put to an end. -
SEATO Formation
In order to stop the spread of communism, a group of allies form SEATO, the South East Asia Treaty Organization. -
Joseph Mccarthy Censure
The Senate voted to censure Senator McCarthy by a vote of 67–22, making him one of the few senators ever to be disciplined in this fashion. -
McDonald's
Ray Kroc opens a McDonald's fast food restaurant and, after purchasing the franchise, begins making it national. -
Disneyland
Disneyland Park is open in Anaheim, California.This sparked the creation of other Disney theme parks around the U.S. -
Geneva Conference.
The Geneva Summit of 1955 was a Cold War-era meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. This was a meeting of the "The Big Four": -
Emmett Till Lynching
Emmett Till was a 14 year old African American who was lynched in Mississippi after being accused of offending a white woman. -
James Dean Crash
The death of Hollywood actor James Dean occurred on September 30, 1955, near Cholame, California. He was traveling to a sports car competition when his car crashed at a junction on route 46. -
Rosa Parks Arrest
In Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat to a white person. She is then arrested which sparks a movement of boycotting public transportation. -
Merge of CIO and AFL
The Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor are two of the largest labor unions, and have always had rivalry. After years of rivalry, the two organizations merged in 1955. -
Heartbreak Hotel
Elvis' first single with RCA records, "Heartbreak Hotel," is released. It becomes his first number one hit. -
Federal Highway Act
This marked the beginning of the interstate highway system. This was a period where the international road and highway systems were fixed. -
Marilyn Monroe marries Arthur Miller
Monroe and Miller were married in 1956, at the White Plains courthouse in a four-minute ceremony, and then held their 25-person wedding reception at the Westchester home of Miller's Hollywood agent -
"In God We Trust"
Bill 619 required that the inscription "In God We Trust" appear on all paper and coin currency. This was signed into law by President Eisenhower. -
Jackson Pollock Dies
An American painter, Jackson Pollock dies in a car crash. He was known as one of the most influential painters around the world. -
Transatlantic Telephone Cable
The first transatlantic telephone cable begins operation.It was laid between Gallanach Bay, Scotland and Clarenville, Newfoundland. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
In response to the Suez Crisis, President Eisenhower introduced his doctrine. The Eisenhower Doctrine hoped to protect the Middle East from the influence of the U.S.S.R. -
Eisenhower Second Term
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated for his second term in office. He defeats Richard Nixon. -
Civil Rights Act
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs into law the Civil Rights Act of 1957. This law empowered the court to prosecute those not allowing colored people to vote. -
Little Rock
President Eisenhower interferes with segregation in the South by sending troops to escort African American students in to school at Central High. -
Russia's Sputnik
The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. This increased tension with the United States. -
Stalin Dies
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin dies from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 73. A battle for succession among Kremlin insiders will last almost two years before Nikita Khrushchev becomes the Russian leader. -
NASA forms
On July 29, 1958, Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA. The big rivalry with Russia known as the Space Race made it necessary for the U.S. to make this possible. -
National Defense Education Act
The National Defense Education Act was signed into law on September 2, 1958, providing funding to United States education institutions at all levels -
The Affluent Society
The Affluent Society is a 1958 book by Harvard economist John Kenneth Galbraith. The book sought to clearly outline the manner in which the post–World War II United States was becoming wealthy -
Buddy Holly Plane Crash
American rock and roll musician Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, -
Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro becomes prime minister of Cuba. He created big controversial issues as a communist leader. -
Hawaii
Hawaii becomes the 49th state to enter the United States of America. Following this shortly is Alaska. -
Landrum Griffin Act
This is a US labor law that regulates labor unions' internal affairs and their officials' relationships with employers
