Here are the major events of 1950, formatted as a Wikipedia article:

1950

1950 was a pivotal year in the mid-20th century, marked by escalating Cold War tensions, significant scientific breakthroughs, and cultural shifts. The year witnessed the outbreak of a major armed conflict and solidified the ideological division between the East and West.

Political and Military Events

• January 21: Alger Hiss is found guilty of perjury for denying he was a Soviet spy. This event intensified anti-communist sentiment in the United States and heightened the Red Scare.
• February 9: Senator Joseph McCarthy alleges that 205 communists are working in the U.S. State Department. This marked a significant escalation in McCarthyism and the anti-communist hysteria gripping the nation.
• June 25: The Korean War begins with North Korea invading South Korea. The United States, under President Truman, quickly intervened in support of South Korea, escalating the Cold War.
• July 5: The first battle between American soldiers and North Korean forces occurs.
• October 7: UN forces, primarily consisting of U.S. troops, cross the 38th parallel and invade North Korea.
• November 26: Chinese forces intervene in the Korean War, driving back UN forces. This dramatically changed the course of the war.
• December 11: The United Nations establishes the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to aid refugees worldwide.

Scientific and Technological Events

• March 2: The first successful human kidney transplant is performed in Chicago, Illinois. This marked a significant milestone in medical science.
• June 14: ENIAC, one of the first electronic general-purpose computers, is officially shut down. This marked the end of an era in early computing.
• December 20: Scientists at the University of Chicago produce the first electricity from nuclear energy.

Cultural Events

• March 15: The film Cinderella is released by Walt Disney Productions, becoming a classic and beloved animated film.
• October 2: Peanuts, the comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, is first published. It would go on to become one of the most popular and influential comic strips in history.
• Popular Music: The rise of Rock and Roll began to take hold. Artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley would be highly influenced by the musical events that were occurring this year.

Other Notable Events

• The United States experienced a period of economic prosperity and population growth during the early 1950s, contributing to the post-war boom.
• Continued advancements in suburban development and automobile ownership further shaped American society.

1950 laid the groundwork for many of the major trends and conflicts that would define the decade and the Cold War era.