1955
Salk polio vaccine approved
On the tenth anniversary of FDR's death, a University of Michigan panel announced that Jonas Salk's injectable polio vaccine was safe and effective.
Bandung Conference
Twenty-nine newly independent Asian and African nations met in the Indonesian city of Bandung and declared themselves a non-aligned force in world politics…
Warsaw Pact founded
In response to West German rearmament and NATO, the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites signed a mutual defense pact in Warsaw.
Rosa Parks refuses to move
On a Montgomery bus, a forty-two-year-old seamstress and NAACP secretary refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested.
Disneyland opens
Walt Disney opened his theme park in Anaheim, California, on a stiflingly hot July day.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1955?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1955. The most significant is Salk polio vaccine approved: On the tenth anniversary of FDR's death, a University of Michigan panel announced that Jonas Salk's injectable polio vaccine was safe and effective.
What era was 1955 part of?
1955 falls within the Modern Era (1901-2000). World wars, cold war, and the splitting of the atom.
Which regions saw notable events in 1955?
The events from 1955 span North America, Southeast Asia and Europe.