Year by year · 20th century
1950
1950 in world history: 16 events, 12 births, 17 deaths, 6 works, 3 states founded and 6 that came to an end. 406 recorded states existed that year.
Events
Britain recognises the People's Republic of China
The United Kingdom became the first major Western power to recognise Mao Zedong's communist government in Beijing. The decision, partly aimed at protecting Hong Kong, split Britain from US policy.
India becomes a republic under its new constitution
The Constitution of India came into force and Rajendra Prasad became the first President, replacing the British monarch as head of state. The day is celebrated as Republic Day.
Joseph McCarthy claims to have a list of communists in the State Department
In a speech at Wheeling, West Virginia, the Wisconsin senator said he held a list of 205 communists in the State Department. The charge launched years of anti-communist investigations.
North Korea invades South Korea
North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel in force. The Korean War drew in UN forces and China and ended in a 1953 armistice near the original line.
UN Security Council calls on members to defend South Korea
Resolution 83 recommended that members help South Korea repel the North's attack. The Soviet Union was boycotting the Council and could not veto it.
UN forces land at Inchon
US Marines led General MacArthur's amphibious landing at Inchon, far behind North Korean lines. Seoul was retaken within two weeks and the North Korean army collapsed.
Battle
Battle of Chamdo
The Battle of Chamdo was fought in October 1950 in eastern Tibet, when the People's Liberation Army crossed the Jinsha River and defeated the Tibetan army around the town of Chamdo, capturing the regional governor Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme.
Event
Briggs Plan
The Briggs Plan was the British strategy against the communist insurgency in Malaya devised in 1950 by Lieutenant-General Sir Harold Briggs, the director of operations during the Malayan Emergency.
Battle
Battle of Route Coloniale 4
The Battle of Route Coloniale 4 was a series of engagements in September and October 1950 along the road linking French frontier posts near the Chinese border in northern Vietnam.
In the profiles
People's Republic of ChinaChinese People’s Volunteers enter the Korean War
United State of RajasthanSirohi joins and the union becomes the state of Rajasthan (26 January)
Republic of IndiaThe constitution comes into force and India becomes a republic on 26 January
HinduismThe constitution of the Republic of India abolishes untouchability
SanskritIndia’s constitution lists Sanskrit among the languages of the nation
Wars and longer events
Born in 1950 12
Died in 1950 17
Jan Smuts1870–1950
Peter Fraser1884–1950
Vallabhbhai Patel1875–1950
Kazys Grinius1866–1950
Sudirman1916–1950
Karl Renner1870–1950
Arturo Alessandri1868–1950
Cho Man-sik1883–1950
Constantin Carathéodory1873–1950
Léon Blum1872–1950
Mario Lago1878–1950
Rosli Dhobi1932–1950
Sami al-Hinnawi1898–1950
Vilmos Tkálecz1894–1950- Belarmino Tomás1892–1950
- Hailu Tekle Haymanot1868–1950
- Narendra Shah1898–1950
Works 6
States founded 3
States that came to an end 6
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1950. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1950
- MLA
- “1950.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1950. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “1950.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1950.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1950’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1950 (Accessed: ).