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World War II: Allies invade France on D-Day
World War II: Allies invade France on D-Day; 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces land on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. -
President Roosevelt dies of a stroke
President Roosevelt dies of a stroke and is succeeded by his vice president, Harry Truman; Truman makes the decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan. -
World War II: Germany surrenders unconditionally
World War II: Germany surrenders unconditionally; The United Nations is consequently established on October 24th. -
World War II: U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
World War II: U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan; U.S. drops a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan three days later after Japan refuses to surrender. -
World War II: Japan agrees to unconditional surrender
World War II: Japan agrees to unconditional surrender; Japanese envoys later sign surrender terms aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo harbor on September 2nd. -
Korean War: President Truman commits American troops to battle
Korean War: President Truman commits American troops to battle; He didn't have the approval of Congress, and the conflict lasted until July 27th, 1953. -
Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution is ratified
Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, limiting the president to two terms. -
Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. commonwealth
Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. commonwealth; Its residents could elect their own legislative assembly, a governor, and a representative to the U.S. House of Representatives. -
Dwight Eisenhower is inaugurated as the 34th president.
Dwight Eisenhower is inaugurated as the 34th president; He would later send federal troops to Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., to enforce integration of black students on September 24th, 1957.