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Major Events of September 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 September 1956 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

  • 01 Sep 1956 Tripura Becomes a Territory of India: On September 1st, 1956, the northeastern Indian state of Tripura transitioned from its previous administrative status to become a territory, reflecting the ongoing political reorganization in post-independence India.
  • 02 Sep 1956 Stirling Moss Wins 1956 Italian Grand Prix: British racing driver Stirling Moss secured a remarkable victory at the 1956 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Italy. His win was particularly notable as it occurred after championship leader Juan Manuel Fangio experienced a mechanical failure, dramatically altering the race's outcome.
  • 03 Sep 1956 Diplomatic Tensions in the Suez Crisis: US President Dwight D. Eisenhower writes a critical letter to UK Prime Minister Anthony Eden regarding the Suez Crisis, suggesting a potential armed response. The letter's contents were leaked, possibly by Walter Monckton, prompting Eisenhower to call a press conference.
  • 04 Sep 1956 IBM RAMAC 305: First Commercial Magnetic Disk Storage Computer: On September 4, 1956, IBM introduced the RAMAC 305 (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control), a groundbreaking computer system that revolutionized data storage technology. This innovative machine was the first commercial computer to utilize magnetic disk storage, marking a significant milestone in computing history. The RAMAC 305 featured a massive hard disk unit that could store approximately 5 megabytes of data, which was an extraordinary capacity for its time. Its random access capabilities allowed for much faster data retrieval compared to previous sequential storage methods, paving the way for modern computer storage technologies.
  • 05 Sep 1956 USS Suffolk County Naval Ship Launched: The De Soto County-class tank landing ship USS Suffolk County (LST-1173) is ceremonially launched at the Boston Naval Shipyard. Mrs. Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. performs the traditional ship launching ceremony, marking an important moment in US naval expansion during the Cold War era.
  • 06 Sep 1956 Death of Michael Ventris, Linear B Decipherer: Michael Ventris, the 34-year-old English philologist renowned for deciphering the ancient Linear B script, tragically died in a car accident. His groundbreaking work in decoding this prehistoric writing system had revolutionized understanding of Mycenaean Greek civilization and archaeological linguistics.
  • 07 Sep 1956 Bell X-2 Aircraft Sets Altitude Record: The Bell X-2 experimental aircraft achieved an unprecedented unofficial manned altitude record, soaring above 126,000 feet and pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology during the mid-1950s Cold War era aerospace research.
  • 08 Sep 1956 Harry Belafonte's 'Calypso' Tops Charts: Harry Belafonte's groundbreaking album 'Calypso' reached #1 on the music charts and maintained its top position for an impressive 31 weeks. This achievement was significant in popularizing Caribbean music in the United States and highlighting Belafonte's cultural influence.
  • 09 Sep 1956 Elvis Presley's Historic Ed Sullivan Show Debut: Elvis Presley made his groundbreaking first national television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, captivating a record audience of approximately 60 million viewers. This performance marked a pivotal moment in popular culture and television entertainment, significantly boosting Presley's national fame and helping to mainstream rock and roll music.
  • 10 Sep 1956 Louisville Public Schools Integration: On September 10, 1956, Louisville, Kentucky made a significant step towards racial desegregation by integrating its public school system, allowing African American students to attend previously all-white schools. This milestone was part of the broader Civil Rights Movement challenging racial segregation in education.
  • 11 Sep 1956 Typhoon Emma Devastates Japan and South Korea: Typhoon Emma causes significant destruction across Japanese and South Korean territories, resulting in 77 confirmed fatalities and causing over $8 million in damages. The typhoon's extensive impact highlights the destructive potential of severe tropical cyclones in the region.
  • 12 Sep 1956 Racial Segregation in Kentucky Elementary School: On September 12, 1956, Black students attempted to enter Clay, Kentucky elementary school but were prevented from doing so, highlighting the ongoing racial tensions and segregation in American public education during the mid-1950s.
  • 13 Sep 1956 IBM Introduces First Commercial Hard Drive: In the United States, IBM introduces the groundbreaking IBM 350 Disk File, the world's first commercial hard disk drive, as part of the IBM RAMAC 305 computer system. This revolutionary storage device features fifty double-sided 24-inch diameter platters, served by a single arm and read/write head. The drive offers an impressive storage capacity of approximately 5 megabytes and can transfer data at a rate of 8,800 characters per second, marking a significant milestone in computer storage technology.
  • 14 Sep 1956 First Prefrontal Lobotomy in Washington, D.C.: On September 14, 1956, medical history was marked by a significant and controversial neurosurgical procedure: the first prefrontal lobotomy performed in Washington, D.C. This surgical intervention involved cutting connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, which was at the time considered a treatment for various mental health conditions. The procedure, pioneered by neurologist Walter Freeman, was intended to alleviate severe psychiatric symptoms but was later widely criticized for its invasive nature and potential for causing significant cognitive and personality changes.
  • 15 Sep 1956 First Soviet Commercial Jet Airliner Takes Flight: The Tupolev Tu-104, a groundbreaking Soviet passenger jet, was introduced into commercial service by Aeroflot, marking a significant milestone in aviation history. This aircraft represented a major technological leap for the Soviet Union, demonstrating their capability to develop advanced commercial jet transportation. The inaugural flight connected Moscow's Vnukovo Airport with the distant Siberian cities of Omsk and Irkutsk, showcasing the aircraft's impressive range and performance capabilities.
  • 16 Sep 1956 First Australian Television Station Launches: TCN-9 Sydney becomes the first Australian television station to commence regular broadcasts, marking a significant milestone in Australian media and communication technology.
  • 17 Sep 1956 Poznań Uprising: Soviet Suppression of Workers' Protest: Soviet troops brutally crush labor protests in Poznań, Poland, firing on a crowd demonstrating against high prices and poor living conditions, resulting in 53 civilian deaths. This event highlights the intense political repression in Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
  • 18 Sep 1956 Mao Zedong Discusses North Korean Political Tensions: In a significant diplomatic conversation, Chairman Mao Zedong reveals tensions with North Korea following the arrest of Korean Workers' Party members, including Pak Il-u. The discussion highlights the complex relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and North Korea during the Cold War period.
  • 19 Sep 1956 First International Conference of Black Writers and Artists at Sorbonne: A groundbreaking gathering of Black intellectuals, writers, and artists convened at the Sorbonne University in Paris, marking a pivotal moment in Pan-African cultural discourse. The conference brought together prominent figures from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States to discuss cultural identity, decolonization, and artistic expression in the context of global Black experiences.
  • 20 Sep 1956 Groundbreaking Jupiter-C Missile Launch: The U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) successfully launched the Jupiter-C research and development vehicle from Cape Canaveral, demonstrating significant advancements in missile and space technology. The launch achieved remarkable performance metrics, propelling an 86.5-lb payload to an altitude of 680 miles, reaching speeds of 16,000 mph and covering a range of 3,300 miles. This mission was a critical milestone in early American space and missile development efforts.
  • 21 Sep 1956 Assassination of Nicaraguan Dictator Anastasio Somoza: Anastasio Somoza García, the long-standing dictator of Nicaragua, was assassinated by Rigoberto López Pérez, a 27-year-old poet, in the city of León. This significant political event marked a pivotal moment in Nicaraguan history, challenging the authoritarian regime that had dominated the country.
  • 22 Sep 1956 Kentucky School Desegregation: A Pivotal Civil Rights Moment: From September 5 to September 22, 1956, a critical moment in the Civil Rights Movement unfolded in Kentucky, where the Kentucky Army National Guard and State Police intervened to enforce school desegregation. At Clay Consolidated School, racial tensions escalated as a crowd attempted to block black students from entering. The National Guardsmen ultimately cleared the path, allowing African American students to access education, marking a significant step towards racial integration in public schools. This event was part of the broader national struggle for civil rights, occurring just two years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The use of National Guard troops highlighted the federal government's commitment to enforcing desegregation and protecting the rights of African American students.
  • 23 Sep 1956 Ramat Rachel Cross-Border Shooting Incident: Soldiers from the Jordanian Legion launched an unprovoked attack on Israeli archaeologists working within Israeli territory near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. The incident resulted in four fatalities and 16 injuries. Following international pressure, Jordan officially apologized and attributed the attack to a rogue individual, highlighting the tense geopolitical relations in the region during that period.
  • 24 Sep 1956 First Transatlantic Telephone Cable Becomes Operational: The first transatlantic telephone cable system is activated, connecting Newfoundland, Canada and Scotland, marking a significant milestone in global telecommunications technology. This submarine cable enables direct voice communication between North America and Europe, dramatically improving international communication speed and reliability.
  • 25 Sep 1956 TAT-1 Transatlantic Telephone Cable Inaugurated: The TAT-1 (Trans-Atlantic Telephone Cable) submarine communication system was officially inaugurated, marking a revolutionary moment in global telecommunications. This groundbreaking cable system connected North America and Europe, enabling direct telephone communication across the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in history, dramatically reducing communication times and costs.
  • 26 Sep 1956 Elvis Presley's Homecoming Concert in Tupelo: Elvis Presley performed a memorable homecoming concert at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. The event was a significant cultural moment, featuring a parade and drawing thousands of enthusiastic fans. During two performances, Elvis electrified the audience with hit songs like 'Hound Dog' and 'Don't Be Cruel', showcasing his rising stardom and deep connection to his roots.
  • 27 Sep 1956 Captain Milburn G. Apt's Fatal Mach 3 Flight: USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt made aviation history by becoming the first pilot to exceed Mach 3 while flying the experimental Bell X-2 rocket-powered aircraft. Tragically, moments after achieving this remarkable speed milestone, the aircraft went out of control, resulting in Captain Apt's fatal crash.
  • 28 Sep 1956 Elvis Presley Record Sales Milestone: RCA Records announced that Elvis Presley had sold over 10 million records, solidifying his status as a groundbreaking rock and roll icon and demonstrating the massive cultural impact of his music.
  • 29 Sep 1956 Australian Rules Football to be Olympic Demonstration Sport: Officials confirm that Australian rules football will be included as a demonstration sport at the upcoming Melbourne Olympics, highlighting the sport's growing international recognition.
  • 30 Sep 1956 Algerian War: Terrorist Bombings in Algiers: Three female members of Algeria's National Liberation Front (FLN) - Djamila Bouhired, Zohra Drif, and Samia Lakhdari - conducted coordinated bombings in European Algiers. Their attacks targeted a Milk Bar and a Cafeteria, killing 3 civilians and injuring 50. A third bomb at the Air France terminus failed to detonate due to a technical malfunction.