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Roswell UFO incident
One morning in 1947, in the town of Roswell, New Mexico, a rancher named Mac Brazel found some metallic sticks held together with tape, chunks of plastic, foil reflectors, and scraps of paper-like material in his sheep pasture. Unable to identify the objects in his yard, Brazel called Roswell’s sheriff. The sheriff called the Roswell Army Air Force base. The soldiers took all of the unidentifiable items into their armor trucks. -
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The Cold War
The Cold War was a rivalry that started after World War II between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies. The Cold War was pertained political, economic, social, and propaganda fronts. -
President Truman announces the Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy adapted by President Truman. It's purpose was to counter the Soviet's expansion during the Cold War. It was announced to Congress on March 29, 1947. -
National Security Act of 1947
The National Security Act of 2947 was made to reconstruct the United States government's military and intelligence agencies after World War II. This act established the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, and the Department of Defense. -
Mahatma Gandhi is murdered
Mahatma Gandhi was the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement from the 1920's to his death. He was assassinated in New Delhi on January 30th, 1948 by a Hindu fanatic named Nathuram Vinayak Godse. -
World Health Organization Established
The World Health Organization is an agency created by the United Nations on April 7th, 1948. The agency is concerned with international public health and welfare of the world. -
U.N. Declaration of Human Rights
On December 10th, 1948 the Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Based on the past world wars and the aggressive experiences, the Universal Declaration was the first time that countries agreed on alienable human rights. -
NATO is founded
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance between North American and European countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on April 4th, 1949. -
Soviet Union lifts Berlin blockade
On May 12, 1949, the Soviet Union lifts its 11-month blockade against West Berlin. Thus, an early crisis of the Cold War comes to an end. The blockade had been broken by a U.S.-British airlift with vital supplies to West Berlin's two million citizens. -
Nineteen Eighty-Four is published
Published on June 8th, 1949, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell. The themes of this book focus on government corruption, totalitarianism, and repressive regimentation of everything within society. -
President Truman signs the NSC-68 Report into policy.
In April 1950, the NSC-68 report was completed and presented to President Harry Truman. This report was filled with recommendations on how to approach the Cold War with the Soviet Union. This report would influence U.S. foreign policy pertaining to the Cold War for the next twenty years. The report caused the United States' aggressive military expansion and build up of nuclear weaponry. -
Korean War begins
The Korean War began when Kim Il-sung and his North Korean army crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. Thus, imposing a communist invasion. North Korean's army allied with Soviet tanks quickly took over South Korea. Then, the United States came to South Korea's aid. -
Organic Act of Guam
The Organic Act of Guam is signed into law by President Harry S. Truman during August . The act made Guam a territory of the United States and gave all Guam residents U.S. Citizenship. Also, the act gave the creation of legislative, judicial and executive branches of government and a bill of rights. -
Direct Dial Coastal Call
The first direct-dial coast to coast telephone call was made during November 1951. The call was between the Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, M. Leslie Denning, and the Mayor of Alameda, California, Frank Osborne. It took 18 seconds to connect the call and it was placed using AT&T’s direct distance dialing system, this was without the use of an operator to connect the call. -
Operation Greenhouse
The US performed its first thermonuclear weapon test in May 1951, as a part of "Operation Greenhouse." The test was conducted at the Enewetak Atoll and the blast, named "George," was the first successful demonstration. The test confirmed to scientists that it would be possible to create a large-scale hydrogen bomb. -
First Pan American Games
The first Pan American Games began on the 25th of February, 1951. The games were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina and took place over the span of two weeks. The purpose of the games was to create an Olympic-style competition for the Americas. At the end of the games Argentina, the United States, and Chile won the most medals. -
Great Britain Tests Atomic Bomb
The United Kingdom tests its first atomic bomb during October 1952 becoming the world's third nuclear power. The test took place at the Montebello Islands in Australia. -
Treaty of San Francisco
The Treaty of San Francisco, was a Peace Treaty with Japan. The treaty was between Japan and the Allied Powers. It was officially signed by 49 nations on September 8, 1951, in San Francisco, California. It didn't became effective until April 4th, 1952. -
Treaty of Taipei
The Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Taipei, was a peace treaty between Japan and China. The treaty was signed in Taipei, Taiwan on April 28th, 1952, and took effect on August 5th that year, marking the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. -
Soviet Union tests their first hydrogen bomb
The Soviet Union announces its tests on their own hydrogen bomb during August. The version that they tested was a smaller and more portable version of the hydrogen bomb compared to what the US had tested. This announcement increased the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated
Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated as the United States president on January 20th, 1953. Eisenhower was known for his service as a general during World War II, eventually becoming the Supreme Allied Commander. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
Joseph Stalin died of a massive heart attack on March 5, 1953. He is remembered as the man who helped save his nation from Nazi domination and as a mass murderer. -
Brown v. Board of Education Decision
On May 17, 1954, U.S. Supreme Court determined the ruling in the civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education. Thus, it was deemed that segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment and was unconstitutional. -
Hurricane Hazel
On October 5th, 1954, Hurricane Hazel, a category 4 hurricane, hit Haiti and the Carolinas. It was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954. The storm killed about 469 people. This storm would continue to last for ten more days. -
Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback was the biggest mass deportation of undocumented workers in US history. About 1.3 million people were deported in Eisenhower's operation. It was designed to deport the undocumented Mexicans from America. The operation used military tactics to remove Mexican immigrants (some of them American citizens). -
Salk's Polio Vaccine
Determined to finding the crippling and paralzying disease called Polio, Dr. Jonas Salk spent many years coming up with a solution. Finally, in April 1955, it was announced that the vaccine was effective and safe. Thus, a breakthrough in medical history was formed. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland. The treaty was between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc states of Central and Eastern Europe. It took place on May 14th, 1955, during the Cold War. The purpose of this pact was to combat the NATO, which threatened Communist dominance. -
Rosa Parks is arrested
After a long day of work, Rosa Parks got on the bus and sat down. She refused to give up her seat to a white passenger who demanded her for it. Then, she was arrested for disobeying an Alabama law making black people to give up their seats to white people when the bus was full. Her arrest gave inspiration to a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. -
Suez Crisis
The Suez Canal is an important man-made waterway in Egypt. The Suez began when Egypt taking control of the Suez Canal. It was then followed by with a military attack from Israel, France, and Great Britain, the countries who deemed control of the canal. -
Federal-Aid Highway Act
After several years, the Federal-Aid Highway Act was passed on June 29th, 1956. The law allowed the construction of a 41,000-mile network of interstate highways that would go all across the nation. $26 billion was required to pay for all of this as well. -
Browder v. Gayle
On November 13th, 1956, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision in Browder v. Gayle. Therefore, they legally ended racial segregation on public transportation in Alabama. -
Asian Flu Pandemic
The Asian Flu was first identified in February 1957, in East Asia. Then, drastically spread to countries worldwide. This pandemic was the second major influenza pandemic to occur in the 20th century. It caused about one million to two million deaths worldwide. -
Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine was nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School. In 1957, their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis. The crisis was the students were not allowed to enter the racially segregated school. -
Vanguard TV3 Satellite Launch
The Vanguard TV3 was launched on December 6th, 1957, at Cape Canaveral Kennedy Space Center. It was the US' first attempt to put a satellite into orbit. However, the rocket only rose a few feet before crashing. Thus, it was seen as a defeat to the already achieving Soviet Union. -
The Munich Air Disaster
On February 6th, 1958, the Munich Air Disaster occurred. Seven United players were killed in this crash. The crash happened when Flight 609 tried to take off from a slush covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport, West Germany. -
NASA created
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, aka NASA was created on July 29th, 1958. The agency is a part of the United States Government. It is responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics and aerospace research. -
USS Nautilus Reaches North Pole
On August 3rd, 1958, the U.S. nuclear submarine Nautilus successfully completes the first undersea journey to the North Pole. It was the world’s first nuclear submarine. It's journey also created a new and shorter route from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Europe. -
Fidel Castro comes into power
After Batista's overthrow in 1959, Castro took over the military and became Cuba's Prime Minister. The United States and Castro's government had a strong opposition towards one another. The US would unsuccessfully attempt to remove him by assassination, economic blockade and revolution. -
Kitchen Debate
On July 24, 1959, the Kitchen Debate took place at the opening of the American National Exhibition at Sokolniki Park in Moscow. It was a series of exchanges between the US Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev. -
Hawaii becomes the 50th state
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation making Hawaii the 50th state of the United States. The president also ordered for an American flag with 50 stars. In March 1959, the U.S. government approved statehood for Hawaii. Then, in June the Hawaiian people voted to accept their statehood. On August 21st, 1959, Hawaii officially became the 50th state. -
Boynton v. Virginia
Boynton v. Virginia was a civil rights case pertaining to segregation in restaurants. The case was seen by the Supreme Court. It overturned a judgment convicting an African American law student for trespassing in a restaurant which was "whites only". -
Civil Rights Act of 1960
The Civil Rights Act of 1960 was passed on May 6th, 1960. The act established inspection of local voter registration polls and created penalties for anyone who tried to ruin someone's attempt to register to vote. Thus, voting became more fair to more minorities. -
First TV Presidential Debate
On September 26th, 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Vice President Richard Nixon faced off in a nationally televised presidential campaign debate.The debate began an era in which television would dominate political campaigns. Thus, presidential candidates who could think quickly on their feet and do well on air would go well. -
JFK becomes president
Elected on January 20th, 1960 as the 35th president of the United States. John F. Kennedy became one of the youngest U.S. presidents at the age of 43. He also became the first Roman Catholic.As president, Kennedy dealt with tensions in Cuba and Vietnam. -
Peace Corps Established
Founded on March 1st, 1961, the Peace Corps is a volunteer program ran by the US government. Its purpose is to provide social and economic development to other countries, while promoting peace among America and the countries aided. -
Berlin Wall is built
Considered one of the main symbols of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was fully built on August 3rd, 1961. The wall, built by East Germany's Communist government divided East and West Berlin. The wall was built to keep the country's people in.
