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Major Events of December 1956: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 1956 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 1956: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott Ends: The Montgomery bus boycott concludes after 381 days, with a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring racial segregation on public buses unconstitutional. This pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement marked a significant legal victory against systemic racial discrimination in public transportation.
  • 02 Dec 1956 First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Chain Reaction: On December 2, 1942, a groundbreaking scientific achievement occurred when Enrico Fermi and his team at the University of Chicago successfully initiated the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction as part of the Manhattan Project. This critical milestone in nuclear physics paved the way for nuclear energy and atomic weapons development.
  • 03 Dec 1956 Anglo-French Withdrawal from Egypt: In the aftermath of the Suez Crisis, England and France completed their troop withdrawal from Egypt, signaling the end of their military intervention and marking a pivotal moment in post-colonial geopolitics.
  • 04 Dec 1956 The Million Dollar Quartet Recording Session: On December 4, 1956, a legendary and unprecedented musical event occurred when Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash spontaneously gathered at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. This unique recording session, later known as the 'Million Dollar Quartet', brought together four of rock and roll's most iconic musicians in a rare, unplanned collaboration.
  • 05 Dec 1956 Rose Heilbron Becomes First Female Judge in Britain: Rose Heilbron made history by becoming Britain's first female judge, marking a significant milestone for women in the legal profession. Her appointment represented a groundbreaking moment in gender equality within the British judicial system, challenging traditional male-dominated legal structures.
  • 06 Dec 1956 Nelson Mandela's Political Arrest in South Africa: Nelson Mandela and 156 other anti-apartheid activists were arrested for political activities in South Africa, marking a significant moment in the struggle against racial oppression.
  • 07 Dec 1956 Larry Bird Birth: Larry Bird, one of the most legendary basketball players in NBA history, was born on this date. He would later become a transformative star for the Boston Celtics, known for his exceptional shooting, court vision, and competitive spirit. Bird is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, helping to revive the NBA's popularity in the 1980s.
  • 08 Dec 1956 Olympic Unity Tradition Begins: A groundbreaking moment in Olympic history occurred when a young teenage apprentice named John Ian Wing anonymously suggested that athletes walk freely among each other during the closing ceremony, breaking traditional national marching formations. This spontaneous act of global solidarity became a symbolic moment of international cooperation and understanding.
  • 09 Dec 1956 Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810 Tragic Crash: A devastating aviation disaster occurred when Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810, a Canadair North Star aircraft, crashed near Hope, British Columbia, Canada. The accident resulted in the tragic loss of all 62 passengers and crew members on board, marking one of the most significant air tragedies in Canadian aviation history.
  • 10 Dec 1956 Establishment of MPLA in Angola: On December 10, 1956, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) was founded, marking a significant moment in Angola's struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. The MPLA was a key political and revolutionary movement that played a crucial role in the Angolan War of Independence and later became a major political party in the country.
  • 11 Dec 1956 Anti-Russian Demonstrations in Polish Cities: On December 11, 1956, significant anti-Russian demonstrations erupted in the Polish cities of Stettin (now Szczecin) and Wroclaw. These protests reflected growing tensions between Poland and the Soviet Union during the post-Stalinist era, highlighting the Polish people's desire for greater autonomy and resistance against Soviet control.
  • 12 Dec 1956 Japan Joins the United Nations: Japan officially became a member of the United Nations, symbolizing its post-war reintegration into the international community and marking a significant step in its diplomatic rehabilitation.
  • 13 Dec 1956 Jackie Robinson Traded and Retires from Major League Baseball: On December 13, 1956, the Brooklyn Dodgers traded legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson to the New York Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and a cash payment of $35,000. Following this trade, Robinson made the decision to retire from professional baseball, concluding his groundbreaking career that had transformed the sport by breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
  • 14 Dec 1956 Paul-Henri Spaak Becomes NATO Secretary-General: On December 14, 1956, Paul-Henri Spaak was appointed as the Secretary-General of NATO, a significant diplomatic role during the Cold War era. Spaak, a prominent Belgian politician, brought extensive international experience to this crucial leadership position in the transatlantic alliance.
  • 15 Dec 1956 IRA Triggers Emergency Crisis in Northern Ireland: An emergency crisis is proclaimed in Northern Ireland following strategic strikes by the Irish Republican Army, escalating tensions in the region.
  • 16 Dec 1956 Death of Nina Hamnett, Prominent Welsh Artist: Nina Hamnett, a notable Welsh artist, painter, and author, passed away on December 16, 1956. Known for her contributions to the early 20th-century art scene, Hamnett was a significant figure in the modernist movement and bohemian circles of Paris and London.
  • 17 Dec 1956 Canada Adopts Maple Leaf Flag: The Canadian Senate approved the iconic red and white Maple Leaf flag, a pivotal moment in Canadian national identity that symbolized the country's independence and cultural distinctiveness.
  • 18 Dec 1956 Japan Joins the United Nations: On December 18, 1956, Japan was officially admitted as a member state of the United Nations, marking a significant milestone in its post-World War II international rehabilitation and diplomatic reintegration.
  • 19 Dec 1956 John Bodkin Adams Murder Investigation: Irish-born physician John Bodkin Adams was arrested in connection with the suspicious deaths of multiple patients. The case involved allegations of potential serial medical killings in Eastbourne, Great Britain. While initially suspected of causing the deaths of over 160 patients, Adams was ultimately convicted only of minor charges, making this a complex and controversial medical-legal investigation.
  • 20 Dec 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott Concludes: The Montgomery Bus Boycott successfully concluded with a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in *Browder v. Gayle*, which declared bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama unconstitutional. This pivotal legal decision was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, challenging systemic racial discrimination in public transportation.
  • 21 Dec 1956 Death of Lewis M. Terman: Lewis M. Terman, a distinguished American psychologist and pioneer in intelligence testing, died on December 21, 1956, at the age of 79. Best known for his work on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales and longitudinal studies of gifted children, Terman made substantial contributions to educational psychology and the understanding of human intelligence.
  • 22 Dec 1956 British and French Troops Withdraw from Egypt: The last British and French troops withdrew from the Suez Canal region, marking the end of their military intervention in Egypt following the Suez Crisis. This event signaled a significant shift in post-colonial power dynamics and international relations.
  • 23 Dec 1956 British and French Troops Withdraw from Suez Canal: In a significant geopolitical moment, British and French military forces completed their withdrawal from the Suez Canal region, marking the end of a controversial military intervention that had strained international relations. This retreat followed the Suez Crisis, a complex conflict involving Egypt, Israel, Britain, and France, which ultimately demonstrated the shifting global power dynamics in the post-World War II era.
  • 24 Dec 1956 Ferdinand de Lesseps Statue Destroyed in Port Said: During the Suez Crisis, the statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French diplomat who designed the Suez Canal, was blown up in Port Said, Egypt. This act symbolized the rising tensions and nationalist sentiments during the conflict between Egypt and the Anglo-French-Israeli forces.
  • 25 Dec 1956 KKK Bombing of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth's Home: On December 25, 1956, Ku Klux Klan members in Alabama launched a terrorist attack by bombing the home of prominent civil rights activist Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. Using 16 sticks of dynamite, the racist extremists targeted the reverend's residence while he was present with his family and two church members. The explosion completely destroyed the home and caused significant damage to the adjacent Bethel Baptist Church. Miraculously, no one inside the home suffered serious physical injuries, though the psychological trauma of such a violent racist act was undoubtedly profound.
  • 26 Dec 1956 Civil Rights Protest Against Bus Segregation in Birmingham: On December 26, 1956, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth courageously led a pivotal desegregation protest against the Birmingham Transit Company. Despite facing violent intimidation, including a bombing of his own home by segregationists, Shuttlesworth remained undeterred. He mobilized approximately two hundred participants to challenge racial segregation by intentionally integrating white-designated sections of city buses. The protest resulted in the arrest of over twenty protesters who defied discriminatory segregation laws, marking a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement's grassroots resistance against systemic racial oppression.
  • 27 Dec 1956 Bill Sharman's Historic NBA Free Throw Streak Ends: Boston Celtics player Bill Sharman concluded an extraordinary 55-game consecutive free throw streak, showcasing remarkable consistency and precision in basketball shooting performance during the 1956 NBA season.
  • 28 Dec 1956 Baling Talks: Malayan Emergency Negotiations: A critical meeting took place in Baling, Malaya between Chin Peng (leader of the Malayan Communist Party), David Marshall (Chief Minister of Singapore), and Tunku Abdul Rahman (future first Prime Minister of Malaysia) to negotiate an end to the Malayan Emergency, a prolonged guerrilla conflict that had been ongoing since 1948.
  • 29 Dec 1956 Death of Martin Albertz, German Theologian: Martin Albertz, a prominent German theologian associated with Jesus Christ's Church, passed away at the age of 73. As a religious scholar, he likely contributed significant theological insights and perspectives within his ecclesiastical community during the mid-20th century.
  • 30 Dec 1956 NFL Championship: New York Giants Triumph Over Chicago Bears: In a decisive victory, the New York Giants dominated the Chicago Bears with a commanding 47-7 score in the 1956 NFL Championship game. This game showcased the Giants' exceptional performance and solidified their status as a powerhouse team in professional football during the mid-1950s.
  • 31 Dec 1956 Asian Flu Pandemic Origin: The Asian flu pandemic, a significant global health crisis, originates in China, setting the stage for a widespread infectious disease outbreak that would impact populations worldwide.