1959 Elections & Political Transitions Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1959 Elections & Political Transitions Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 18 Jan 1960 Democratic National Convention location decided: On January 18, 1959, the location for the 1960 Democratic National Convention was officially decided. This convention was crucial for the Democratic Party as it prepared for the upcoming presidential election. source: nytimes.com
- 19 Jan General strike disrupts Argentina during presidential diplomatic mission: A general strike occurred in Argentina on January 19, 1959, disrupting activities during a presidential diplomatic mission. This strike highlighted the political tensions and labor issues in the country at the time. source: bbc.com
- 09 May Eritrea votes to join Ethiopia: On May 9, 1959, Eritrea held a referendum in which the population voted to join Ethiopia. This decision had significant political implications for the region and contributed to future conflicts. source: bbc.com
- 28 Jul Hawaii's first U.S. congressional elections: On July 28, 1959, Hawaii held its first U.S. congressional elections following its admission as the 50th state. Republican Hiram Fong and Democrat Oren Long were elected as the state's first U.S. senators. source: senate.gov
- 30 Aug South Vietnamese legislative election controversy: On August 30, 1959, South Vietnam held parliamentary elections resulting in an overwhelming victory for President Ngô Đình Diệm and the government. The regime won all but two of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, taken by five pro-government political parties and pro-government independent candidates. Despite considerable efforts to prevent opposition candidates from standing, two independent candidates from the opposition were elected. However, during the first inaugural session of the National Assembly, these candidates were not permitted to attend and were arrested and charged with electoral fraud. The election was described by a 1966 CIA report as the "dirtiest and most openly rigged" of all South Vietnamese elections. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 24 Sep British parliamentary election announced: On September 24, 1959, the British government announced a parliamentary election to be held on October 8, 1959. This election was significant as it would determine the composition of the House of Commons and the future direction of the UK government. source: bbc.com
- 08 Oct British General Election of 1959: The British General Election of 1959 was held on October 8, 1959. The Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan, won a significant majority, securing 365 seats in the House of Commons. This election is notable for the Conservatives' successful campaign and the Labour Party's defeat. source: bbc.com
- 26 Oct Castro's mass demonstration in Havana: On October 26, 1959, Fidel Castro addressed a mass rally in front of the Presidential Palace in Havana. The rally was organized by government-affiliated labor unions to express support for Castro's decision to arrest Commander Huber Matos, who had resigned his military post and was charged with treason and attempting to conspire against the revolutionary government. source: collections.library.yale.edu
- 03 Nov Israeli parliamentary elections of 1959: On November 3, 1959, Israel held elections for the fourth Knesset. The Mapai party, led by David Ben-Gurion, secured 47 seats, maintaining its position as the largest party. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 13 Dec Archbishop Makarios III elected first President of Cyprus: On December 13, 1959, Archbishop Makarios III was elected as the first President of Cyprus, receiving 66.82% of the vote in the presidential election. This marked a significant milestone in Cyprus's journey to independence from British colonial rule. source: britannica.com
What happened in 1959?
Discover what the world looked like in 1959: