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The North Korean military began the Communist lead invasion of South Korea.
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President Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his commands after criticizing the limited war efforts of the Truman administration, and starting unauthorized talks with China in the Korean war.
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The Japanese Peace Treaty Conference was held San Francisco.
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The McCarran–Walter Act was enacted, with the House and Senate overriding President Truman's veto of the bill.
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The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, ending the Korean War.
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Army-McCarthy hearings: Senator McCarthy was nationally discredited after failing to provide credible evidence supporting accusations of communist activity in the U.S. government amid the two months of televised hearings.
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The United States became a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
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The African-American Civil Rights Movement began.
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The Warsaw Pact was signed, establishing a mutual defense arrangement subscribed to by eight Communist states in Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union.
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a United Airlines Douglas DC-7 and a Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation collided above the Grand Canyon in Arizona, killing all 128 people on board both aircraft.
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The Eisenhower Doctrine, wherein a country could request American economic assistance or military aid if threatened by outside armed aggression, was proclaimed.
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Space race: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
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Explorer 1: The first U.S. satellite was launched into space.
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Alaska was admitted to the Union, becoming the 49th state.
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The First Grammy Awards was held.