4.29.19 Unit 9: The Cold War
The Space Race
MAD: Soviets vs. U.S. During the Cold War, America and the Soviet Union came to rely on a theory called Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) If each country could destroy the other, neither would use their nuclear weapons b/c they would fear destruction Nuclear policy today still depends on this idea
Arms & Space The arms race also led to the space race Both countries wanted: To ensure their safety To prove their superiority
Space Race Timeline You will examine do a gallery walk of the key events of the Space Race Fill in your timeline in using these events. Make sure to include why this event is significant.
4.30.19 Unit 9: The Cold War
Sputnik Soviet Union launched Sputnik on October 4, 1957 1st artificial satellite to orbit earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdc4coS2LQ8 22:16-27:21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdQHuiV_9AI
Significance Soviets have technological superiority Winning the space race Soviets have nuclear delivery superiority Americans worried that the same rocket used to launch Sputnik, ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), could carry a hydrogen bomb Psychological fear to Americans We need to catch up!
Effects Led to creation of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Education: National Defense Education Act Gave $ to schools to improve math, science and foreign language education
US Accomplishments Alan Shepard First American in space – 5/5/61 Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin First men to set foot on the moon – 7/20/69
Moon Speech, May 25, 1961 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUXuV7XbZvU