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Sputnik Launched
Soviets send an unmanned satellite into orbit, kickstarting the space race with the U.S. Sputnik Launch -
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Space Race
From 1957-1969 the U.S. competed against the Soviet Union to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. The goal of a moon landing set up a series of changes in U.S. culture and education, scientific advancements, and paranoia. -
National Defense Education Act
NDEA provided additional federal funding for science and math curriculum and instruction in all secondary schools. Fear that the nation's children were being behind Russian students led to schools overhauling curriculum and trying new teaching methods to bring American schools up to par with Russian schools.