The document summarizes several key events in the 1950s: 1) The Korean War ended in 1953 with a ceasefire signed along the 38th parallel. President Eisenhower considered this one of his proudest achievements. 2) In 1953, the US orchestrated a coup in Iran to remove Mohammed Mossadeq from power and reinstate the Shah to maintain Western influence over Iranian oil. 3) The French loss at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 ended French control of Vietnam, leading to the Geneva Accords that divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel and called for reunification elections in 1956.