theflyingmongoose's Test Thread

[theflyingmgoose]

The 1953 Soviet Coup was a leadership struggle that occurred in the USSR in August of 1953. The increasingly-marginalized reformers, led by Nikita Khrushchev, overthrew the hardliners, led by Lavrentiy Beria. Khrushchev gained influence following the decrease in living standards following the large number of sanctions imposed following the 1952 Invasion of Hungary.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

August 18, 1955 - Mexican General Election:

 

[theflyingmgoose]

October 3, 1955 - Brazilian General Election:


PRESIDENTS OF BRAZIL:
Getulio Vargas (SD) - 1951-1955
Cafe Filho (SD) - 1955-1956
Luis Carlos Prestes (AL) - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

November 14, 1955 - Australian General Election:


PRIME MINISTERS OF AUSTRALIA:
Robert Menzies (L-C) - 1948-1954
Coalition Majority - 1948-1954
H.V. Evatt (LAB) - 1954-?
Labor Majority - 1954-?

Elections in Australia were held on November 14, 1955. Prime Minister H.V. Evatt, despite having been in office for a year and a half, called a general election. Evatt did this largely to seek a new mandate for his proposed universal healthcare program. During the previous term, his government also passed a wide variety of expansion to pensions and began a program to build high-quality affordable housing. Labor won the election with an increased majority.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

January 2, 1956 - French General Election:


PRIME MINISTERS OF FRANCE:
Antoine Pinay (NCI) - 1952-1952
Independents & Peasants-Radical-Popular Republican-Union of Resistance Coalition - 1952-1952
Robert Schuman (RAD) - 1952-1954
Independents & Peasants-Radical-Popular Republican-Union of Resistance Coalition - 1952-1954
Louis Jacquinot (NCI) - 1954-1954
Independents & Peasants-Radical-Popular Republican-Union of Resistance Coalition - 1954-1954
Jean Letournau (RAD) - 1954-1955
Independents & Peasants-Radical-Popular Republican-Union of Resistance Coalition - 1954-1955
Pierre Mendes France (RAD) - 1955-1956
Independents & Peasants-Radical-Popular Republican-Union of Resistance Coalition - 1955-1956
Guy Mollet (SFI) - 1956-?
Worker's International-Social Labor-Radical Coalition - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

January 17, 1956 - Finnish General Election:



PRESIDENTS OF FINLAND:
Juho Kusti Paasikivi (NCP) - 1946-1956
Karl-August Fagerholm (SDP) - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

February 15, 1956 - Greek General Election:


PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE:
Alexander Papagos (GR) - 1952-1953
Greek Rally Majority - 1952-1953
Konstantinos Karamanlis (GR) - 1953-1956
Greek Rally Majority - 1953-1956
Sofoklis Venizelos (DU) - 1956-?
Democratic Union Majority - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

The Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia following the latter's embracing of more moderate policies in the wake of the 1955 Soviet Leadership Coup. While it took longer than expected, Czechoslovakia surrendered. Much of the nations' leadership was removed or executed, including Premier Dubcek. The countries later signed the Moscow Protocol, a document that acknowledged the Soviet right to ensure 'the continuation of socialism'.

The invasion attracted much condemnation worldwide, with some pointing out that the Soviets- despite making up 80% of the invading forces- made up less than half of the deaths.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

March 23, 1956 - Austrian General Election:

CHANCELLORS OF AUSTRIA:
Leopold Figl (P) - 1945-1954
People's-Socialist Coalition - 1945-1953
People's-Freedom Coalition - 1953-1954
Julius Raab (P) - 1954-1956
People's-Freedom Coalition - 1954-1956
Bruno Kreisky (S) - 1956-?
Socialist-People's Coalition - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

June 1, 1956 - Ecuadorian General Election:


PRESIDENTS OF ECUADOR:
Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra (VNF) - 1952-1956
Raul Clemente Huerta (PSE) - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

June 14, 1956 - Dutch General Election:


PRIME MINISTERS OF THE NETHERLANDS:
Willem Drees (LAB) - 1948-1955
Labour-Catholic People's-Christian Union-People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Coalition - 1948-1952
Labour-Catholic People's-Anti-Revolutionary-Christian Union Coalition - 1952-1955
Julius Christiaan van Oven (LAB) - 1955-?
Labour-Catholic People's-Anti-Revolutionary-Christian Union Coalition - 1955-1956
Labour-People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Coalition - 1956-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

July 1, 1956 - South Korean General Election:


PRESIDENTS OF SOUTH KOREA:
Syngman Rhee (L) - 1948-1956
Chang Myon (D) - 1956-?

Elections for the office of President of South Korea were held on July 1, 1956. Incumbent strongman Syngman Rhee, who had led the nation since its founding, ran for a third term. While heavily favored, Chang Myon- who had led the opposition to a strong performance two years prior- managed to defeat the incumbent. While the President considered fighting the results, Myon was peacefully sworn in for a four-year term.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

The 1955 Iranian Invasion of Iraq began on November 20, 1955. The armies of the People's Republic of Iran with the help of the Soviet Union managed to defeat the rest-of-the-world armed Iraq. The peace treaty after the war resulted in the abolition of the Iraqi Monarchy and the imposition of a Communist regime. The war was notable for the horrific tactics the Soviets used, particularly towards the end of the war by Vasyl Tkachenko, who was released from prison in a 'grand bargain' with the Khrushchevite faction.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

September 17, 1956 - Swedish General Election:


PRIME MINISTERS OF SWEDEN:
Tage Erlander (SD) - 1946-1952
Social Democratic Majority - 1946-1952
Bertil Ohlin (P) - 1952-?
People's-Right-Farmer's League Coalition - 1952-?

 

[theflyingmgoose]

November 6, 1956 - United States General Election:


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Robert Taft (R) - 1953-1954
Richard Nixon (R) - 1954-1957
Lyndon Johnson (D) - 1957-?





Elections were held in the United States on November 6, 1956. Incumbent President Richard Nixon- who succeeded Robert Taft following his death- sought a term of his own. The Nixon Administration was widely perceived as having competently managed the economy, as well as governing more liberal than expected. President Nixon signed a landmark voting rights act and implemented a large-scale infrastructure program (with funding for public transit).

However, the White House was seen as having totally dropped the ball on Communist expansion. Specifically, the fall of Iran and Iraq to Soviet invasions and a growing number of leftist victories in the Americas. Nixon's inability to do much was partially effected by President Taft's reduction in military and intelligence spending, something Majority Leader Johnson purposely sabotaged for political purposes.

Thus, the Democrats swept the elections, expanding their majorities in both houses and reaching far past the filibuster-proof margin (Nixon got it lowered from 67 to 63 votes).

 

[theflyingmgoose]

Apologies for the low quality, but here's the Senate for the 85th Congress, with some exclusions towards changes that occur after the 1958 midterms.


70 Democrats (71 After McCarthy dies)
26 Republicans (25 After McCarthy dies)

President of the Senate: Hubert Humphrey (D)
---------------------------------------------------------
President Pro Tempore: Carl Hayden (D-AZ)
Majority Leader: Earle Clements (D-KY)
Majority Whip: Mike Monroney (D-OK)
Democratic Secretary: Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Minority Leader: William Knowland (R-CA)
Minority Whip: Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME)
Republican Secretary: John Bricker (R-OH)

Number of Women Senators: 3
Number of Jewish Senators: 6

 

[theflyingmgoose]

A coup was launched in Mexico in November of 1956. The government of Adolfo Ruiz Cortines had grown increasingly unpopular due to an economic crisis and generally incompetent leadership. The axing of the CIA/intelligence budgets by President Taft allowed the Soviet Union to move countless assets into position in Mexico, enabling a takeover of the capital. The new government invited Warsaw Pact troops to provide 'security assistance' in an effort to secure the country before President Johnson could take office.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

The Polish Union Riots (also known as 'Warsaw Winter') were a series of high-profile strikes and protests that occurred in Poland in late 1956. The Soviet Government had been demanding more resources from the country, resulting in widespread supply shortages. Strict working conditions and lax labor laws also enraged workers. The protests featured civil disobedience along with a general strike.

The response from the government of Boleslaw Bierut was to launch a brutal military crackdown. Over 2,000 people would be killed (and over ten times that wounded) during this operation. Bierut then requested the deployment of Soviet troops to secure his power.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

January 7, 1957 - Polish General Election:

LEADERS OF POLAND:
Boleslaw Bierut (WP) - 1947-?

A general election was held in Poland on January 7, 1957. This was only two weeks after the end of the Warsaw Winter protests, which heavily damaged the reputation of the Communist government. On election day, the turnout was a record low. Over 60% of those who did vote left their ballots blank. Even then, the Communist Party almost fell to second amongst its own puppet coalition. This "victory" led to protests, which were brutally suppressed.

 

[theflyingmgoose]

(NOTE: It should be 53 seats not 83)

PRIME MINISTERS OF CANADA:
Louis St. Laurent (LIB) - 1948-1953
Liberal Majority - 1948-1953
Tommy Douglas (IND) - 1953-1955
Independent Leading Liberal-Cooperative Coalition - 1953-1955
Louis St. Laurent (LIB) - 1955-?
Liberal Majority - 1955-1957
Liberal-Cooperative Coalition - 1957-?

General elections were held in Canada on February 11, 1957. The incumbent government of Louis St. Laurent ran for re-election. St. Laurent had called the election to strengthen his hand, but this backfired. The Liberals lost forty seats and the status as the largest party in the House of Commons, and were forced to make a coalition with the Cooperative Commonwealth that gave them the Speakership and policy concessions.