1950s: The Labour Party is in power throughout 1951, though the Conservative Party rules Great Britain for the rest of the decade.

Today: The Conservative Party is in power through much of the 1990s, until the Labour Party returns in the late 1990s.

1950s: At Oxford, women and men have separate colleges. There is not talk of allowing women and men into some of the same colleges until the mid-1960s.

Today: Since the mid-1970s, at least some of the previously all-male colleges admit women, though the women's colleges fear they might return to secondary status again.

1950s: Great Britain is still recovering from the devastating effects of World War II on its economy, infrastructure, and people. Food is rationed until 1954, while coal is rationed until 1958.

Today: Fully recovered from World War II with no rationing, Great Britain still has economic problems but looks...