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Law of Return
Israel passed a law called the "Law of Return." This new law granted immediate citizenship to any immigrant Jewish people. -
Joseph Stalin Died
Joseph Stalin was the former communist leader of Russia, and when he died Nikita Khrushchev took his place. -
Queen Elizabeth Coronated
Queen Elizabeth was coronated as Queen of England at Westminster Abbey at age 25. She had the first ever televised coronation. -
Hydrogen Bomb
At the Semipalatinsk test site on the Kazakhstan steppe, the Soviet Union detonated the first hydrogen bomb. A physicist named Andrei Sakharov was one of the main designers of the bomb. -
Algerian Independence War Begins
The war for Algerian independence from France lasted until March 19, 1962. The uprising began in rural areas and then made its way to the urban sections of Algieria. The French leaders viewed these as acts of treason. -
Sputnik Launched
The first ever artificial satellite was called Sputnik, and was launched by the Soviet Union. It was about the size of a beach ball. -
Guinea's Independence
France adopted a new constitution. However, Guinea rejected that constitution, voting for independence from France instead. -
Castro Took Over
When Batista resigned and fled Cuba, Castro took over as Cuban president.