WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO JULY 1956
Find out what all happened February to July 1956

Tunisia gains independence from France. (20. March 1956)

Formation of the East German Nationale Volksarmee (1. March 1956)

The United States Merchant Marine Academy becomes a permanent Service Academy. (20. February 1956)

In Operation Redwing (shot Cherokee), the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. (20. May 1956)

A doctor in Japan reports an "epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system", marking the official discovery of Minamata disease. (1. May 1956)

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 is signed, officially creating the United States Interstate Highway System. (29. June 1956)

Following the World Bank's refusal to fund building the Aswan Dam, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking international condemnation. (26. July 1956)

Former Vice President and Senator Alben Barkley dies during a speech in Virginia. He collapses after proclaiming "I would rather be a servant in the house of the lord than sit in the seats of the mighty." (30. April 1956)

Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. (Republic Day in Pakistan) (23. March 1956)

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland. (24. May 1956)

Start of Gal Oya riots, the first reported ethnic riots that target minority Sri Lankan Tamils in the Eastern Province. The total number of deaths is reportedly 150. (11. June 1956)

Spain relinquishes its protectorate in Morocco. (7. April 1956)

SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey for Houston, Texas. (26. April 1956)

In Sri Lanka, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna win the general elections in a landslide and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike is sworn in as the Prime Minister. (5. April 1956)

Hudsonville-Standale Tornado: The western half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan is struck by a deadly F5 tornado. (3. April 1956)

The French National Assembly takes the first step in creating the French Community by passing the Loi Cadre, transferring a number of powers from Paris to elected territorial governments in French West Africa. (23. June 1956)

The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public. (1. May 1956)

Jim Laker becomes the first man to take all 10 wickets in a Test match innings as he returns figures of 10/53 in the Australian 2nd innings. This combined with his 9/37 in the first innings gave him match figures of 19/90 in the 4th Test at Old Trafford. (31. July 1956)

As the World Turns and The Edge of Night premiere on CBS-TV. The two soaps become the first daytime dramas to debut in the 30-minute format. (2. April 1956)

A joint resolution of the U.S. Congress is signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, authorizing In God we trust as the U.S. national motto. (30. July 1956)