March 6, 1957★★★★★
Ghana gains independence
The British Gold Coast became independent Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah, the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence after World War II.
Politics· Ghana, United Kingdom
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Events this year
March 25, 1957★★★★★
Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community
Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands sign the treaty creating the European Economic Community, forerunner of the European Union.
TreatyEconomy· Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands
August 31, 1957★★★★★
Independence of the Federation of Malaya
Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaims the Federation of Malaya's independence from Britain at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
Politics· Malaysia, United Kingdom
October 4, 1957★★★★★
Launch of Sputnik 1
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, Earth's first artificial satellite, opening the Space Age.
TechnologyExploration· Russia, Kazakhstan
Ongoing
November 1, 1954 – March 19, 1962★★★★★
Algerian War of Independence
The National Liberation Front (FLN) fights French rule; the war ends with the Évian Accords and Algerian independence in 1962.
WarRevolution· Algeria, France
November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975★★★★★
Vietnam War
A conflict between North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on one side and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and its allies, on the other; it ends with the fall of Saigon in 1975.
War· Vietnam, United States, Laos, Cambodia