Sept. 17-21 - A severe hurricane sweeps in from the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread damage in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana and killing at least 100. On Sept. 21, in the hurricane's aftermath, flood waters near New Orleans kill about 60.

Oct. 14 - In his X-1 rocket plane, pilot Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to break the sound barrier.

Nov. 20 - Princess Elizabeth, heir to the British throne, weds Lt. Philip Mountbatten in an elaborate ceremony. Students gather around radios at dawn to listen to a broadcast of the wedding.

Dec. 27 - A record-breaking snowstorm strikes the Northeast, dumping a record 25.8 inches of snow on New York City and causing nearly 80 deaths in North Atlantic states.

Jan. 4, 1948 - Burma achieves independence from Great Britain.

Jan. 30 - Mohandas K. Gandhi is assassinated by a Hindu extremist, after a long, non-violent campaign to win independence for India.

Feb. 22 - A coup in Czechoslovakia puts the Communist Party into power in Prague.

March 8 - The Supreme Court rules in McCollum v. Board of Education that religious instruction in public schools is unconstitutional.

April 3 - President Truman signs the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948. It provides $5.3 billion for the European Recovery Program, also known as the Marshall Plan.

April 7 - The World Health Organization is formed.

April 30 - Bringing together the democracies of the western hemisphere, the Organization of American States is founded.

June 24 - President Truman signs the Selective Service Act, and the Republican National Convention nominates Gov. Thomas Dewey of New York for the presidency.

July 15 - The Democratic National Convention nominates President Truman for reelection and Sen. Alben Barkley for the vice presidency.

July 20 - Twelve American Communist Party leaders are indicted and charged with advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government.

POLITICS