The 1950s

1950s Timeline

By gsw0412
  • 1950 U.S. Census

    1950 U.S. Census
    The U.S. Census of 1950 determined the resident population of the United States to be 150,697,361.
  • Korean War

    Korean War
    The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The United Nations came to the aid of South Korea. China came to the aid of North Korea with support from the Soviet Union.
  • Rosenberg Espionage Trial

    Rosenberg Espionage Trial
    Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were United States citizens who were executed for conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. They were instrumental in the transmission of military information that was of value to the Soviet nuclear weapon program.
  • First Hydrogen Bomb Tests

    First Hydrogen Bomb Tests
    The first successful test of a hydrogen bomb was performed by the United States on November 1, 1952.
  • Presidential Election of 1952

    Presidential Election of 1952
    The presidential election of 1952 was the nation's 42nd election. Republican candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower was the landslide winner.
  • CIA assists overthrow of government in Iran 1954

    CIA assists overthrow of government in Iran 1954
    The CIA orchestrated an Iranian coup d'état that would overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister in favor of strengthening the monarchical rule.
  • McCarthy Congressional hearings looking for communists

    McCarthy Congressional hearings looking for communists
    McCarthy conducted a series of hearings to determine if certain Americans had ties to the communist party. These hearings caused untold damage to many people's lives and careers.
  • Brown V. The Board of Education

    Brown V. The Board of Education
    The Unites States Supreme Court case in which the court decided that establishing separate public schools for black and white students was unconstitutional.
  • National Guard called to Little Rock, Arkansas Central High School

    National Guard called to Little Rock, Arkansas Central High School
    The National Guard was initially ordered by the Governor to "Preserve the Peace" and keep colored students from integrating into Little Rock Central High School. President Eisenhower then ordered the National Guard to protect the little rock students entering the school.
  • Containment Policy of Communism

    Containment Policy of Communism
    The United States policy of using numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism.
  • Polio vaccines begin

    Polio vaccines begin
    The first Polio vaccines were invented by Jonas Salk and came into use in 1955.
  • McDonald's company founded by Ray Kroc

    McDonald's company founded by Ray Kroc
    Ray Kroc was an American business man who founded the McDonald's company in 1955.
  • U.S. government agrees to train Vietnamese soldiers in Vietnam

    U.S. government agrees to train Vietnamese soldiers in Vietnam
    The United States military agreed to send advisers to Vietnam to train their soldiers.
  • U.S. government orders all public schools to be intergrated

    U.S. government orders all public schools to be intergrated
    After the Supreme Court's decision on the Brown V. Board of Education case the U.S. government ordered all public schools to be integrated.
  • Disneyland opens

    Disneyland opens
    Disneyland park opens under the supervision of Walt Disney.
  • Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat

    Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
    Rosa Parks refuses to obey the bus driver's order to give up her seat in the colored section of the bus for a white passenger after all the other seats were filled.
  • Southern Congressmen resist desegregation with Southern Manifesto

    Southern Congressmen resist desegregation with Southern Manifesto
    The Southern Manifesto was a document written in opposition to racial integration of public places.
  • Presidential Election of 1956

    Presidential Election of 1956
    Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower successfully runs for reelection.
  • Federal Aid-Highway Act

    Federal Aid-Highway Act
    The Federal Aid-Highway Act was put into action by President D. Eisenhower. The law authorized the use of $25 billion to construct 41,000 miles of the interstate system.
  • Jimmy Hoffa arrested by FBI

    Jimmy Hoffa arrested by FBI
    Jimmy Hoffa was associated with the Louisiana teamsters and was arrested by the FBI after they received evidence against him from one of his associates.
  • Alaska becomes a state

    Alaska becomes a state
    Alaska becomes the forty ninth state.
  • U.S. recognizes Fidel Castro as leader of Cuba

    U.S. recognizes Fidel Castro as leader of Cuba
    The United States recognizes Fidel Castro as the leader of Cuba in hopes that the new regime would protect American interests.
  • Hawaii becomes a state

    Hawaii becomes a state
    Hawaii becomes the 50th state.