T4-History-Top Events in the 1950's

By Adeleine

  • Korean War Begins

    World War 2 caused Korea to divide into a communist North Korea and a non-communist South Korea. The two countries are divided at the 38th parallel, which is a circle of latitude at 38 degrees North. The war sparked when North Korea's army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea. The United States supported South Korea with General Douglas MacArthur leading the army. He was able to recapture South Korea's capital and pushed them back to the northernmost provinces.

  • Mutual Security Act

    President Harry S. Truman signed the Mutual Securit Act, announcing that the U.S was ready to provide military support to 'free peoples'. The Act helped European nations to rebuild after the war economically. This also prevented the spread of communism by supporting democratic nations.

  • Queen Elizabeth's II Coronation

    Queen Elizabeth II was the 39th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminister Abbey, which held coronations ever since 1066. Her father, King George VI died when she was in Kenya and was the first Sovereign to rise to the throne while abroad. The dress Her Majesty wore was designed by Norman Hartnell and was made of white satin and embroideries with the emblems of the UK and the Commonwealth. She wore the George IV State Diadem with 1333 diamonds and 169 pearls. The Coronation begun at 11:15 am.

  • Brown V Board of Education

    This event was one of the cornerstones in the civil rights movement, abolishing the common notion that the white and black people would be "separate but equal." Oliver Brown's daughter: Linda Brown, was rejected enrolment by an all-white school near to their house. She was forced to travel a long distance just to get to an all-black school that accepted her. Oliver Brwon argued that schools for black children were not equal to white schools. The Supreme Court's verdict was to integrate schools.

  • Salk's Polio Vaccine Results

    Polio was a virus that affects the person's nerves, causing paralysis. By the 20th century, thousands were affected by the disease and was what Americans feared most. Salk's expertise in vaccines first begun in WW2, when he helped develop flu vaccines. In April 1955, Salk announced that his vaccine was effective and safe after testing it on nearly 2 million children. In 1957, polio cases dropped to 6000. In 1962, an oral vaccine was available.

  • Rosa Parks' Arrest

    On buses, there were designated seats for coloured and white people. Montgomery drivers often moved back the sign that marked the separation back. On this bus, many white passengers had to stand in the aisle so the driver did just that. Rosa Parks (civil rights activist) was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person because she was very tired, on a bus in Montgomery. This sparked the Montgomery bus boycott which lasted for 11 months in order to desegregate the city's buses.