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The Chinese Civil War was a military struggle for control of China. It was waged between the nationalists and the communist. The nationalists under Chiang Kai-Shek, and the communists under Mao Zedong.
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The Russians closed all highways, railroads, and canals from Germany to Berlin. They believed lack of food and supplies would drive Britain, France and the U.S out for good. However, instead of retreating, the US and allies decided to deliver supplies by air. This effort lasted more than a year and carried more than 2.3 million tons of cargo.
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Harry S. Truman (democratic nominee) defeated Thomas E. Dewey (Republican nominee.) Every prediction indicated that Truman would be beat by Dewey. Truman's election confirmed the democratic party as the nations majority party.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created by the United States, Canada, and some Western European nations to provide security against the soviet union. First peacetime military alliance the US entered into outside of the Western Hemisphere.
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“Your Hit Parade,” a popular radio show, makes its debut on the new medium of TV.
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A literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-war era.
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Gunsmoke was in the top ten television programs broadcast in the united states. It was number one until 1961. Bonanza presented pressing moral dilemmas. Alfred Hitchcock Present was named "the 100 best tv shows of all time.
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Florence Chadwick swims the English Chanel in 13h 20mins a women's record.
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College basketball fans are shocked by a point-shaving scandal involving players from City College of New York (CCNY), Long Island University (LIU), and New York University (NYU).
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J. Andre-Thomas invents the first heart-lung machine, allowing advanced life-support during open-heart surgery. UNIVAC first commercial computer. Super glue is invented.
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NBA holds first All-Star basketball game which is held at Boston Gardens. East won the game 111-94.
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Radio DJ Alan Freed, who uses the phrase rock ’n’ roll to describe a style of music, is the host of the Moondog Coronation Ball at Cleveland Arena. A riot ensues when hundreds of concertgoers are unable to get into the sold-out show.
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Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican) won in a landslide victory over Adlai Stevenson (Democrat.) This ended a string of Democratic wins dating back to 1932.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of handing over US secrets to the Soviet Union. Ethel's brother was involved and sold his sister out to protect his wife. Julius and Ethel were sentenced to death.
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A war between North and South Korea. Began when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes at the border.
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A series of hearings held by the United States Senates Subcommittee on Investigations to investigate conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Joseph McCarthy.
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Bill that created a 41,000-mile National system of interstate and defense highways. Was supposed to eliminate unsafe roads, traffic jams, and anything that would interrupt speedy travels.
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60 million Americans watched as Presley made a debut on the Sullivan show. The Sullivan show was the countrys most popular show.
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Israeli armed forces pushed into Egypt toward the Suez canal after the Egyptian President nationalized the canal. This initiated the Canal Crisis.
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First artificial Earth satellite. The soviet union launched it, and it orbited for 3 weeks before its batteries died.
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At age 23 Elvis was drafted, when he came back people said he sounded "old fashion"
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The USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane. The piolet Francis Powers was captured. After confronted with evidence of espionage Eisenhower was forced to admit that the CIA had been flying spy missions over the USSR for some time. Powers was sentenced to 10 years. He only served two, first-ever US-USSR spy swap.
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The Berlin Wall was built as a barrier that divided Germany. The wall was aimed at permanently closing off access to the west.
