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1947 Major News Events in History

  1. Roswell UFO incident
  2. U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall announces the “Marshall Plan”
  3. The International Monetary Fund IMF begins to operate.
  4. The start of the Cold War which endured over four decades
  5. The United Nations votes in favor of the creation of an Independent Jewish State of Israel.
  6. India and Pakistan gain independence from Great Britain.
  7. Jackie Robinson took to the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers becoming the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball.
  8. Bell Laboratories invents the transistor.
  9. Thor Heyerdahl's balsa wood raft the Kon-Tiki, smashes into the reef at Raroia
  10. Chuck Yeager, a United States Air Force Captain and World War II veteran, becomes the first person to break the sound barrier

More Detailed Information on each Event and those not included can be found below

What Happened in 1947 Important News and Events, Key Technology and Popular Culture

>What happened in 1947 Major News Stories include Kon-Tiki expedition, Roswell UFO incident, India and Pakistan Beome Independent Nations, CIA established. IMF Established, Ferrari begins production of sports cars, Cold War Beginnings between East and West, United Nations votes in favor of the creation of an Independent Jewish State of Israel, Technology includes First "instant camera", "Tubeless Tire", Transistor is invented, Sound Barrier Broken, First Mobile Phone,

1947 In most areas of consumer goods demand outstripped supply in the US and the British car makers took advantage of these shortages by exporting as many cars as they could to help boost British jobs and economy and many Americans liked the idiosyncrasies from these British cars like Austin, Hillman and MG's. This year saw some of the most significant inventions that would impact lives for many years to come including the Transistor and the Mobile Phone. The start of the Cold War which lasted close to 4 decades is also seen as the Worlds two Super Powers USA and USSR worry about the dominance, politics and influence of each other on the other countries in the world. And many couples started lives living with parents due to the continuing shortages in housing

What Events Happened in 1947

Roswell UFO incident

UFO allegedly found on July 7 in the Roswell UFO incident

More Information and Timeline For The Roswell UFO incident

1. Unknown object crashed in the general vicinity of Roswell, New Mexico,

2. The United States Armed Forces insists it was a high-altitude surveillance balloon

3. On July 8th Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) public information officer Walter Haut in Roswell, New Mexico, issued a press release stating that personnel from the field's 509th Bomb Group had recovered a crashed "flying disk" from a ranch near Roswell,

4. The story all but died following the Press Release for 30 years

5. In 1978, UFO expert Stanton T. Friedman interviewed Major Jesse Marcel who was involved with the original recovery of the debris in 1947

6. Marcel expressed his belief that the military had covered up the recovery of an alien spacecraft including Alien Lifeforms

This created the urban myth, legend or cover up for what we now call the Roswell UFO incident which possibly means Aliens, Space Ships and much more are hidden by the US Military, If the reports are true or false I don't know, I leave it to others to make their own decision

United States -- Marshall Plan

U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall announces the “Marshall Plan” to the public during June while giving a commencement speech at Harvard. Marshall expressed an urgent need for the United States to help Europe recover from the devastation of World War II. The plan became effective one year later with the United States giving over $12 billion to help rebuild Europe, modernize the region, and help prevent communism from spreading to the nations in Western Europe. The Marshall Plan was largely successful and helped create a more friendly, prosperous, and open relationship between the U.S. and Europe.

International Monetary Fund IMF begins

The International Monetary Fund IMF begins to operate.

More Information and Timeline For The International Monetary Fund

1. The IMF was conceived following the breakdown of world trade and currencies during the Great Depression

2. To oversee the international monetary system of exchange rates and international payments

3. IMF was conceived in July 1944, when representatives of 45 countries meet in the town of Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States,

4. IMF came into formal existence in December 1945, when its first 29 member countries signed its Articles of Agreement

5. Originally 29 countries signed including Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, India, Iraq, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Iran,

6. Current members of the IMF are the 187 members of the UN and Kosovo

7. Headquarters is in Washington, D.C.

8. Voting Weight of member countries is done by a quota system the higher subscription the bigger the voting weight and its access to IMF financing. The United States has by far the largest Quota due to it's subscription giving it 16.77% of the voting rights

9. Major decisions require an 85 percent super majority therefore the US has an absolute veto.

This is an important organization and is playing a significant role in Europe currently where Greece, Ireland and Portugal, The IMF does loan money but most often with strict requirements including cutting public spending etc.

Cost of Living 1947

Average Cost of new house $6,600.00

Average wages per year $2,850.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents

Average Cost New Car $1,300.00

Loaf of Bread 13 cents

United States Postage Stamp 3 cents

Men's Sweater $8.50

Bulova Men's Watch $52.50

Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup 23 cents for 2 cans

Leg O Lamb 59 cents per pound

Loaf Marvel Enriched Bread 13 cents per loaf

Oranges 49 cents per dozen

Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling

Average House Price 1,824

Couple of examples of houses for sale this year

Harlingen , Texas New Brick House 5 room house with all furniture included $7,100

Long Beach , California Mediterranean style Home with Most beautiful 2 story modern home overlooking the ocean well cared for grounds $37,500

Born This Year

Stephen King September 21st

Bob Wier ( Grateful Dead ) October 16th

Hillary Rodham Clinton October 26th

Richard Dreyfuss October 29th

Peter Noone November 5th

Johnny Rivers November 7th

Minnie Riperton November 8th

David Bowie January 8th -- Brixton, London, England

Judge Joe Brown July 5th -- Washington, D.C., U.S.

Tom Clancy April 12th -- Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

James Dyson May 2nd -- Cromer, Norfolk, England,

Farrah Fawcett February 2nd -- Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.

Steve Forbes July 18th -- Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.

Elton John March 25th -- Pinner, Middlesex, England

David Letterman April 12th -- Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

Meat Loaf September 27th -- Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Arnold Schwarzenegger July 30th -- Thal, Styria, Austria

O. J. Simpson July 9th -- San Francisco, California, U.S.

Danielle Steel August 14 -- New York City, New York, U.S.

The Cold War Beginnings

The start of the Cold War which endured over four decades, from circa 1947 until the decline and eventual collapse of East European and Soviet state communism in the late 1980's.

More Information and Timeline For The Start Of The Cold War

1. 1945 to 1947 Following the End of World War The Soviet Union begins creating the Eastern Bloc which mostly included countries it had successfully taken back from Nazi Germany Control. "satellite states of the Soviet Union"

2. Following the end of World War II the allies divide a defeated Germany into occupation zones The Soviet Union controls Eastern Berlin and Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

3. Part of The Truman Doctrine The US Gives $400 million in aid to Greek and Turkish governments to help fight the growth in communism

4. The United States Government becomes committed to stop communism from infiltrating the United States through Trade Unions, Media and other influential organizations.

5. House Committee on Un-American Activities holds nine days of hearings into alleged communist propaganda and influence in the Hollywood motion picture industry

6. President Harry S. Truman issues Executive Order 9835 on March 21st establishing a sweeping loyalty investigation of federal employees

This is just a brief idea of how and when the Cold War Begins, the full extent includes so many other areas including Berlin Blockade ( 1948 - 1949 ), Korean War ( 1950 - 1953 ) Berlin Wall ( 1961 ), US Marshall Plan, Arms Race, Space Race, Communist attempt for Influence on Other Countries ( 1947 to 1980's )

Israel -- Independence

The United Nations votes in favor of the creation of an Independent Jewish State of Israel.

More Information and Timeline For Independent Jewish State of Israel

1. 1923 British rule of Palestine begins

2. 1923 Jews and Arabs lived together in Palestine

3. 1929 Following the anti-Semitism in Poland and Hungary ( 1923 - 1929 )more than 75,000 additional Jews emigrate to Palestine.

4. 1936 to 1939 As the number of Jewish settlers increase a large-scale Arab Revolt against Jewish Settlers occurs in Palestine

5. 1939 As the Nazi regime increases it's influence ( 1929 to 1939 ) in some European Countries an additional 250,000 Jews arrived in Palestine

6. 1939 and 1945 ( World War II ) during The Holocaust 6 million Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe are murdered in concentration camps and elsewhere.

7. After World War II ends 100's of thousands of Jews become displaced persons (refugees) with no homeland

8. 1945 to 1947 to win independence, underground Jewish militias waged a bitter guerilla war against the British including bombing attacks against British Military Headquarters

9. 1947 November 29th The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine recommended the partition of Palestine into two separate states, one Arab and one Jewish

10. The city of Jerusalem would be under the direct administration of the United Nations

11. 1948 The State of Israel declares independence on May 14th

The independent state of Israel has had and is still an considered an outcast in the area due to multiple borders with Arab countries, over the last 60 years a number of wars have been fought from the First Arab-Israeli War (1948-49) to today where guerilla / terrorist Arab organizations attack Jewish settlements and Israel responds using extreme military force, US Presidents and world leaders have all attempted to hold pace talks but while some Arab states including Palestine still do not recognize the state of Israel and Israel continues to use it's military superiority to build additional settlements it is difficult to see a negotiated settlement holding long term ( This Webmasters Personal View of the conflict )

India and Pakistan independence

India and Pakistan gain independence from Great Britain.

More Information and Timeline for India and Pakistan Independence.

India and Pakistan become independent nations on August 15 after the Indian Independence Bill goes into effect. The countries had previously been under British rule for over two hundred years. The independence movement in India began at the turn of the century and was largely influenced by Mohandas Gandhi and his efforts and non-violent resistance. Gandhi heralded the move by Britain as one of the "noblest acts" they have ever committed. While independence was celebrated throughout India and Pakistan, the two new countries also experienced sharp divisions between Hindus and Muslims and many episodes of violence within the more divided regions occurred, creating conflicts that still exist in those parts today.

USA -- Truman Doctrine

President Harry S. Truman outlines the Truman Doctrine to the United States Congress during March. Truman spoke on the importance of helping secure the democracies of foreign nations that were facing foreign and domestic authoritarian threats. His speech marked the beginning of the Cold War as it was directed towards stopping the spread of communism in Europe and blocking the Soviet Union’s influence in Greece and Turkey at the end of World War II. Truman vowed that the United States would fight against communism by providing economic, military, and political intervention to vulnerable nations.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson took to the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers becoming the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball.

More Information and Timeline for Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson breaks the Major League Baseball color barrier when he is chosen to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 9th . Robinson was a pioneering figure in racial integration and civil rights when he became the first African-American player to play in the Major League since Moses Fleetwood in 1884. Robinson played his first game with the team on April 15th, . Robinson won the Rookie of the Year award in his first season and went on to be a legendary ballplayer. Although Robinson faced harsh discrimination, racism, and abuse from fans and other players, he made a point to remain calm and did not respond to any of the attacks until 1949 when he became an outspoken proponent of integration and equal civil rights.

United Kingdom -- Coal Industry Nationalized

1. The United Kingdom nationalizes its coal mines beginning in January .

2. The moves to nationalize the coal industry were made in July of the previous year with the passage of the “Coal Industry Nationalisation Act of 1946” which created the National Coal Board (NCB) to run the mines.

3. The NCB took over more than 1,500 mines that had been owned by 850 coal companies and the companies were paid £164,000,000 as compensation for the mines.

4. While in charge, the NCB increased production and tried to improve the working conditions of miners by adding benefits, raising wages, and cutting the work week to 5 days.

5. Over the years the demand for coal decreased and by 1994, the mines that remained were given back to the private sector.

United States -- Polaroid Camera Demonstrated

1. The Polaroid Land Camera is first demonstrated during February .

2. The camera’s inventor, Edwin Land, took the first instant photo with his innovative camera in New York at a meeting of the Optical Society of America.

3. The camera could take and develop a physical black and white photo in just 60 seconds and during the following year stores began selling it to the public for $89.95.

4. In 1963, Polaroid introduced the first color instant photo version of their film.

5. The Polaroid Land Camera became incredibly popular and Polaroid enjoyed success throughout the rest of the century until digital format cameras became the more mainstream option.

USA -- Sound Barrier Broken

Chuck Yeager, a United States Air Force Captain and World War II veteran, becomes the first person to break the sound barrier on October 14 News Events. Yeager made history while test flying the Bell X- 1 experimental rocket plane over Rogers Dry lake in California. He flew the plane just over Mach 1 at an altitude of over 40,000 feet. Yeager continued to fly at incredible speeds as a test pilot into the Sixties and retired as a brigadier general in 1975.

Polynesia --- Kon-Tiki expedition

Thor Heyerdahl's balsa wood raft the Kon-Tiki, smashes into the reef at Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands

More Information and Timeline For Kon-Tiki Expedition

1. Thor Heyerdahl believed that people from South America could have settled Polynesia in pre-Columbian times

2. The Kon-Tiki expedition was designed to prove that using materials and knowledge only available pre late 1400's the ocean voyage was possible

3. The Kon-Tiki was constructed out of balsa logs

4. The main sail was 15 ft by 18 ft on a yard of bamboo stems lashed together

5. Kon-Tiki was named after the Inca sun god, Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name

5. The Kon-Tiki had six men on its crew including Thor Heyerdahl

6. Kon-Tiki lands on an uninhabited islet off Raroia Island in the Tuamotu group of Islands on August 7 after a 101 day, 4,300 mile journey across the Pacific Ocean proving that pre-historic peoples could have traveled from South America

Thor Heyerdahl's book about his experience became a bestseller. It was published in 1948 as The Kon-Tiki Expedition, many anthropologists dispute the claim, but regardless this was still a remarkable experiment and worthy of mention

Bell Laboratories invents the transistor

A research team at Bell Laboratories invents the transistor

More Information and Timeline for the Transistor

1. A research team including William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain is assembled in 1945 by Bell Laboratories to create a solid-state semi-conductor switch to replace vacuum tubes in electronics..

2. John Bardeen and Walter Brattain invent the very first point-contact transistor .

3. William Shockley invents the junction transistor to improve upon the original design in early 1948.

4. Bell unveils the invention in June of 1948.

5. The first commercial product to be sold that used transistors was the Sonotone hearing aid that was put on the market in 1952. It sold for about $230 and soon many competitors were coming up with cheaper and improved options.

6. In October of 1954, Texas Instruments introduced the first transistor radios to the market. The Regency TR1 opened the door for more improved and portable technology to be developed.

7. The transistor became a much faster, smaller, and more efficient way to run electronic devices and allowed all different types of new technologies to develop. Nearly all modern electronic devices, including computers, would not exist in the way that they do now without the transistor, making it arguably one of the most important inventions of the 20th century.

National Security Act of 1947

National Security Act is created.

More Information for the National Security Act

The National Security Act was created during July when president Harry S. Truman signed it into law. The act facilitated a major restructuring of the United States military with the creation of the Department of Defense in the wake of World War II. As part of the act the National Security Council (NSC) was created and served as a helpful tool for Truman and future presidents to coordinate and consult on foreign policy issues during the Cold War. Additionally, it created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a civilian-based intelligence-collecting institution that is also used to completed secretive operations within foreign nations. The act became effective in September of that year and has remained a part of U.S. policy since.

"Miracle on 34th Street"

The classic holiday film "Miracle on 34th Street" premieres.

More Information for a Miracle on 34th Street

The popular holiday-themed film "Miracle on 34th Street" premieres in the United States during May . The classic film featured Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and Natalie Wood in the starring roles. The film told the story of a man, "Kris Kringle," and his determination to prove to a cynical mother and her daughter that he was the real Santa Claus while working as a Macy's department store Santa. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won three, including Best Writing for Original Story and Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Edmund Gwenn.

The Spruce Goose

Howard Hughes Flying Boat ( The Spruce Goose ) takes off but will never go into production.

More Information for the Spruce Goose

Howard Hughes, movie producer and aviation magnate, conducted the first and only flight of the experimental H-4 Hercules wooden flying boat during November . Nicknamed the "Spruce Goose," the plane was the largest ever built with a 320 foot wingspan at a cost of over $23 million. Hughes successfully piloted the craft 70 feet in the air above water for about one mile at 80 miles per hour before landing in Long Beach Harbor. It was created to carry up to 750 military troops or two Sherman tanks but was never produced due to frame stability concerns.

Technology 1947

First "instant camera" Camera History shown

Saab produces its first automobile.

Goodrich Manufacturers first Tubeless Tyre

Howard Hughes Flying Boat ( The Spruce Goose ) takes off but will never go into production

The Transistor is invented

Walter Morrison invents the Frisbee.

ENIAC, one of the world's first digital computers, is turned on after a memory upgrade. It will remain in continuous operation until October 2, 1955.

The Sound Barrier Broken ( Traveling faster than Sound )

First LP's History of HiFi and Music Players and Media produced ( US )

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

Artificial Intelligence England by Alan Turing

Mobile Phone USA

Transistor USA from Bell Laboratories

Hologram Hungary by Denis Gabor

Popular Culture 1947

Popular Films

Miracle on 34th Street

Road to Rio

The Jolson Story

Popular Books

The Diary of Anne Frank is published

Popular TV

The Television Programme Muffin the Mule (UK)

Other News

CIA established

CIA established

1931 Statute of Westminster

New Zealand ratifies the 1931 Statute of Westminster which provides Effective Legislative Independence from Great Britain

Ferrari

Ferrari begins production of Italian sports cars after having been involved in motor racing since 1929

SS Grandcap Explodes

Ammonium nitrate cargo of SS Grandcap explodes in Texas City, Texas - 552 dead, 3000 injured

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is dedicated as a National Park by President Harry S. Truman

strike

A major strike closes The Paris subway

Forest fires Maine

50 separate Forest fires in Maine and surrounding states destroy more than a two hundred thousand acres

Hurricane

Hurricane in southeast Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - 51 killed

Earthquake Chili

Earthquake in Chilean Andes - 233 dead

Severe Snow Storm

Severe Snow Storm Northeastern part of the United States

Tornado strikes Woodward

Severe Tornado strikes Woodward, Oklahoma killing 107

Polaroid Land Camera Demonstrated

Polaroid Land Camera Demonstrated giving photos in 60 seconds

Dead Sea Scrolls

First Of The Dead Sea Scrolls Found in caves near Wadi Qumran

National Coal Board

Following the creation of National Coal Board in 1946 Great Britain nationalises Coal mines

Nationalised British Railway

The four largest British rail companies Great Western Railway (GWR), the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and the Southern Railway (SR) are taken over by the government and turned into the Nationalised British Railway.

Princess Elizabeth marries the Duke of Edinburgh

Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth marries the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey, London.

( -63 C )is recorded at Snag

The coldest temp in North America ( -63 C )is recorded at Snag, Yukon, Canada

Canadian Citizenship Act

On January 1st The Canadian Citizenship Act passed in 1946 comes into effect, converting British subjects into Canadian citizens.

Edinburgh International Festival

The first Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe festival opens for the performing arts.

Calendar For The Year 1947

1947 Calendar

Major World Political Leaders 1947

Australia -- Prime Minister -- Ben Chifley --

Brazil -- President -- Gaspar Dutra --

Canada -- Prime Minister -- William Lyon Mackenzie King --

France -- Prime Minister -- Vincent Auriol -- From 16 January

India -- Prime Minister -- Jawahar Lal Nehru -- From 15 August

Italy -- Prime Minister -- Alcide De Gasperi --

Japan -- Prime Minister -- Shigeru Yoshida -- Till 24 May

Japan -- Prime Minister -- Tetsu Katayama -- From 24 May

Mexico -- President -- Miguel Aleman Valdes --

Russia / Soviet Union -- General Secretary of the Central Committee -- Joseph Stalin --

South Africa -- Prime Minister -- Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts --

United States -- President -- Harry S. Truman --

United Kingdom -- Prime Minister -- Clement Attlee --

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