Browse a chronology of major international events that occurred during Eisenhower's presidency.
1953
- U.S. and North Korea sign armistice ending the Korean War
- Marshal Tito is elected president of Yugoslavia
- Josef Stalin dies
- Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain crowned
- USSR explodes a hydrogen bomb
- Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay are the first to climb Mt. Everest
1954
- Abdul Nasser seizes power in Egypt and becomes premier
- Southeast Asia Treaty Organization is established (SEATO)
- U.S. tests hydrogen bomb at Bikini Atoll
- Vietnamese Communists occupy Dien Bien Phu and Hanoi
- U.S. signs a pact with Nationalist China (Taiwan)
1955
- Italy, West Germany, and France establish the European Union
- West Germany joins NATO
- Juan Perón resigns from the presidency of Argentina
- Warsaw Pact signed, establishing military alliances between Communist members
- Elections take place in South Vietnam -- Bao Dai is replaced by Ngo Dinh Diem
1956
- Sudan becomes an independent nation
- Pakistan becomes a Muslim republic
- Israeli troops invade the Sinai Peninsula
- Suez Crisis occurs
- Japan joins the UN
- Soviet troops enter Hungary -- martial law declared
- Transatlantic cable telephone service begins
1957
- Israel hands over the Gaza Strip to UN forces
- USSR launchesSputnik
- International Atomic Energy Agency established
- Great Britain explodes a thermonuclear bomb
1958
- The European Common Market is established
- Egypt and the Sudan join to become the United Arab Republic under Nasser
- Khruschev becomes head of the USSR
- Charles de Gaulle becomes president of France
- Fidel Castro begins "total war" against the Batista government in Cuba
- U.S. Marines go into Lebanon at the request of President Camille Chamoun
1959
- Fidel Castro becomes premier of Cuba
- De Valera becomes president of Ireland
- Bandaranaika, president of Ceylon, is assassinated
- USSR Lunik program reaches the moon
1960
- Belgian Congo is granted independence (Congo)
- Cyprus becomes an independent republic
- Khruschev, Harold Macmillan, Eisenhower, de Gaulle meet for summit talks in Paris
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As an avid historian and enthusiast in the field of international relations and political history, my extensive knowledge and passion for the subject matter allow me to delve into the intricate details of major world events, especially those that occurred during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Let's explore the concepts and events mentioned in the provided article:
1. Eisenhower's Presidency (1953-1961):
- Dwight D. Eisenhower served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961, bringing with him a wealth of military experience and a strategic approach to governance.
2. Korean War Armistice (1953):
- The armistice signed in 1953 marked the end of the Korean War, a conflict between North Korea (backed by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United States and other Western nations).
3. International Events (1953-1960):
- 1953: Marshal Tito elected president of Yugoslavia, Josef Stalin dies, Queen Elizabeth II crowned, USSR explodes a hydrogen bomb, Hillary and Norgay climb Mt. Everest.
- 1954: Abdul Nasser seizes power in Egypt, SEATO established, U.S. tests hydrogen bomb, Vietnamese Communists occupy Dien Bien Phu, U.S. signs pact with Nationalist China (Taiwan).
- 1955: European Union established, West Germany joins NATO, Warsaw Pact signed, elections in South Vietnam, Gaza Strip handed over to UN forces.
- 1956: Sudan becomes independent, Suez Crisis, Japan joins the UN, Soviet troops enter Hungary, transatlantic cable telephone service begins.
- 1957: USSR launches Sputnik, International Atomic Energy Agency established, Great Britain explodes a thermonuclear bomb.
- 1958: European Common Market established, United Arab Republic formed, Khruschev becomes head of the USSR, Charles de Gaulle becomes president of France, U.S. Marines go into Lebanon.
- 1959: Fidel Castro becomes premier of Cuba, De Valera becomes president of Ireland, Bandaranaike assassinated, USSR Lunik program reaches the moon.
- 1960: Belgian Congo granted independence, Cyprus becomes an independent republic, summit talks in Paris with Khruschev, Macmillan, Eisenhower, and de Gaulle.
4. Key International Organizations:
- SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization): Formed in 1954 to counter the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
- European Union: Established in 1955 by Italy, West Germany, and France to promote economic cooperation and integration.
- Warsaw Pact: Signed in 1955, it established military alliances between Communist members as a response to NATO.
- International Atomic Energy Agency: Established in 1957 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its use for any military purpose.
5. Middle East and Suez Crisis (1956):
- Israeli troops invaded the Sinai Peninsula in response to the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, leading to the Suez Crisis.
6. Cold War Dynamics:
- The provided events reflect the intense geopolitical rivalry and ideological struggle between the United States (and its allies) and the Soviet Union (and its allies) during the Cold War.
7. U.S. Foreign Policy under Eisenhower:
- Eisenhower believed in active U.S. engagement in world affairs as a means of containing communism, as mentioned in the article's closing reference to Eisenhower's foreign affairs perspective.
In summary, these historical events not only highlight the global dynamics of the Cold War era but also showcase Eisenhower's role in navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the time. His presidency witnessed pivotal moments that shaped the course of international relations and set the stage for subsequent developments during the Cold War.