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India gained independence from British rule on August 15, marking the end of colonialism and the beginning of a new era for the country.
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The Cold War began to take shape as the U.S. and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers with opposing ideologies.
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The United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, leading to tensions and conflict in the region.
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The State of Israel was officially declared on May 14, leading to the first Arab-Israeli War as neighboring Arab countries invaded.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on April 7 to coordinate international health efforts.
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The Berlin Blockade began in June, where the Soviet Union blocked all ground access to West Berlin, prompting the Western Allies to organize the Berlin Airlift to supply the city.
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NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed on April 4 as a military alliance among Western nations to counter Soviet expansion.
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The first successful polio vaccine was developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, leading to significant advancements in public health.
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The Korean War began on June 25 when North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to a conflict that involved multiple nations and lasted until 1953.
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The U.S. and the Soviet Union continued to build up their nuclear arsenals, increasing fears of a potential nuclear conflict.
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The Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb on August 29, escalating the arms race during the Cold War.
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The People's Republic of China was proclaimed on October 1 by Mao Zedong, marking the establishment of communist rule in China.
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The first color television broadcast took place in the United States, marking a significant advancement in broadcasting technology.
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The United States and several other nations signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with Japan, establishing military cooperation.
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The Treaty of San Francisco was signed, officially ending the state of war between Japan and the Allied Powers.
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The United States conducted its first hydrogen bomb test on November 1, significantly increasing the destructive power of its nuclear arsenal.
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The British successfully tested their first atomic bomb, becoming the third country to possess nuclear weapons.
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The first successful human organ transplant (a kidney) was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray in Boston, paving the way for future transplant surgeries.
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The discovery of the double helix structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick was published, revolutionizing the field of genetics.
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The Korean War armistice was signed on July 27, effectively ending the conflict and establishing the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
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The CIA orchestrated a coup in Iran, overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and reinstating the Shah, leading to long-term consequences in the region.
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The first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, was launched by the United States, marking a new era in naval warfare.
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The Geneva Conference began in April, leading to the division of Vietnam into North and South along the 17th parallel.
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The Warsaw Pact was established on May 14 as a collective defense treaty among Soviet-aligned countries in response to NATO.
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The first McDonald's restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, marking the beginning of the fast-food franchise era.
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The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, a landmark moment in the civil rights movement.
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Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement.
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The Suez Crisis erupted when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, leading to military intervention by Britain, France, and Israel.