1. Space Race and Vietnam

2. The Race Begins
After WWII both the US and the Soviet Union began to round up German scientist.
Both sides sought advanced technology that would allow them to control space.
The US captured and the top German scientist, after he surrendered to them, during the war, Werner Von Braun.
He developed the V2 rocket that helped destroy London during WWII.
At first the race was centered on long range intercontinental ballistic missiles or ICBMs.
The US creates the Red Stone rocket that will take the first US astronauts to space.

4. Sputnik 1
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space
America worried, “are we falling behind in science & technology?”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower encouraged increased spending on education (math & science, especially)
And increased military/defense spending

6. Reaching Space
During the late 1940s and early 50s the US Air Force sought to go faster than the speed of sound.
In December of 1950s Chuck Yeager flew at Mach or 2.44 times the speed of sound.
The test pilots become the first astronauts
In 1958 President Eisenhower establishes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The following year NASA began the Mercury program with the goal of putting a man in space.
The US would use the Atlas Rocket to achieve this goal.

8. The Soviets Beat the US Again
In April of 1961 the Soviet Union launched the first man into space and Earth orbit; Yuri Gagarin.
In May the first American in space is Alan Shepard. He spends only a few minutes in space.
In February 1962 John Glen became the first US astronaut to orbit the earth.

10. Going to the Moon
In May of 1961 President Kennedy asked congress to commit federal funding and resources to landing a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s.
NASA begins the Gemini program in and it last till This program was the stepping stone to manned missions to the moon.
The Soviets again beat the US in extravascular activities (EVAs), and multiple man missions.

11. Apollo
From 1961 to 1972 NASA missions centered around the Apollo program.
This program would take the first men to the moon.
The US created a bigger more powerful rocket, Saturn Five.

12. Important Apollo Missions
Apollo 1- Three astronauts die while training in the space craft: Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Richard Chaffee.
Apollo 8- First orbit of the moon. First humans to see the dark side of the moon.
Apollo 11- 1st landing on the moon
Apollo 13- First safe return of a manned space flight after an equipment malfunction. Crew spends five days in space with a dead space craft.
Apollo 17- Final moon landing. First professional scientist, Harrison Schmitt a geologist, walks on the moon.

14. Apollo 11 A three manned mission to the moon.
Astronauts- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins.
On July 20, 1969 Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in the Sea of Tranquility.
The event was televised live around the world.
Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the moon. He said the following as he stepped on the surface “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.
A total of 12 people have ever walked on the moon. All were American. The Soviets never send a manned mission to the moon.

16. French Involvement in Southeast Asia
Prior to WWII southeast Asia had been a French colonial possession
This included the present day countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam
After WWII the French tried to retake their colonial possession but ultimately failed.

17. Vietnam War
1953: Eisenhower explains DOMINO THEORY and how US cannot let another nation fall to communism
Vietcong will resist US within South Vietnam
JFK, afraid to be labeled “soft” on communism, continues US involvement in Vietnam
After USS Maddox fired upon, Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution gives wide war-power to LBJ

19. A Difficult War to Fight
Elusive/Unclear/Determined Enemy
Vietcong were fighting a hundred-year-old war for their survival
Impossible Terrain
jungles, heat, bugs, rain, traps, hiding Vietcong
3.5 million landmines still in Vietnam today
Guerilla Warfare
War of Attrition
Chemical Warfare
Sinking Troop Morale

21. TET OFFENSIVE – January 1968
Tet holiday ceasefire (Vietnamese New Year)
Vietcong ignore ceasefire and attack 100 towns
There was much opposition to this war at home & w/the war so costly to both sides, the US, S.Vietnam & N.Vietnam agreed to a cease-fire in 1973 & American troops were withdrawn
In 1975, N. Vietnamese forces defeated S. Vietnam & reunited Vietnam under communist control