Major events of the 50's

The Civil Rights movement in America began. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation in education on the grounds of race was illegal and Rosa Parks, a black woman, bravely refused to give up her seat to a white man (as was required by law!).   In South Africa, apartheid became legal requiring  people to carry green identification cards that included their race.  People who were classed as "coloureds" were not allowed to vote. 

An outbreak of polio in the UK and elsewhere led to the development of  a vaccine.  A highly contagious virus  mainly affecting children  under five years of age. Infection can  lead to irreversible paralysis and, potentially death when breathing muscles become immobilized. There is no cure for polio once a person becomes infected; it can only be prevented by immunization. 

In 1952 Princess Elizabeth succeeded to the Throne on the death of her father.  She would be crowned the following year. 

The Soviet Dictator died in 1953.  Stalin led the USSR during WW2 and allied with the US and Britain against  Hitler.  During his time in power and through his direct order, millions in the Soviet Union died by execution, and more perished in labour camps. Millions starved to death through his ill-conceived and often purposely cruel policies. 

 In 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik, a satellite which  orbited for three weeks and began the space race and the space age.