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Soviet Launch Sputnik
The Soviet's wanted to challenge the U.S. superpowers and show how powerful they were. They designed the first man-made artificial satellite. This satellite was named Sputnik, Sputnik launch triggered military, political, technological, and scientific experiments. Sputnik's take off was the dawn of the space age and space race. Soviet's engineering shocked the world as it was significantly better than America's Vanguard proposal. -
Soviet Launch Sputnik (Extended)
In addition to the wonderment created, the new technology the Soviet produced frightened many civilians across the globe. They feared the USSR might have the capability to launch ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to the U.S. The Soviet's were very sharp in the process of the Sputnik. They knew it would astonish many and bring worry to countries, specifically America. The USSR showed how strong they were as a country during the late 1950's by this action. -
America Sends Man to the Moon
Sputnik triggered the space age and it was a race to see what country could put a man on the moon first. This would show power and intelligence for the country if they were able to accomplish this mighty task. In 1961, JFK wanted to land Americans on the moon. NASA had created Apollo 11 and was ready to defeat the unthinkable. In 1969, Apollo 11 launched with two man on it and citizens across America all crossed their fingers. Four days later the two man landed on the moon, walked on i -
America Sends Man to the Moon (Extended)
Four days later the two men landed on the moon, walked on it, and put the American flag on it. They then returned home safely. America by doing this created a bigger presence as a superpower nation. Many thought it couldn't be done but America had proved them wrong. They won the race against the Soviets and portrayed our never ending dominance. -
Olympic Rivalry: 1972 Basketball Game
It was the summer of 1972 and the U.S. was still engaged in the Cold War with the USSR. Also in 1972, were the summer Olympic games in Munich (located in West Germany). September 9th, a few days after a massacre taken place in the Olympic plaza, the US and USSR face off in a championship basketball game. The game had a dark cloud over it due to the events leading up to the game. The US was pushed around all game. Many players getting ejected and injured. -
Olympic Rivalry: 1972 Basketball Game (Extended)
Towards the end of the game the United States was winning with three seconds left. Moments away from celebrating, somehow there continued to be time added to the clock,. This created a chance for the Soviets to win the game and they did just that by a buzzer beater in the final moments. The U.S. was cheated and it lead to many foreign countries that the Soviets were superior compared to America. This fueled more hate towards the communist country. America wanted them gone for good. -
1980 Olympic Hockey Game
Again two superpowers face off for a gold medal championship. The U.S. and USSR fight for dominance in hockey at the Olympics. The USSR hockey team no doubtfully was the best team in the world for decades, winning consecutive medals and championships. The professionals on the Soviet's were favorites to win compared to the college kids of the United States. It was a tight game the whole night but the U.S. ended up on top, winning 4-3, some saying the biggest and most important upset in history. -
1980 Olympic Hockey Game (Extended)
This would become to be known as "the miracle on ice." The upset came in a difficult time in America there was worry about the Soviets spreading communism, there was high inflation rates, high unemployment, and an energy crisis. American's were inspired by the shocking win and it gave them hope to contain communism and get through all hardships going on in the country. -
Collapse of Soviet Union
In the December of 1991, the people of the Soviet Union granted self-governing independence among the country. On December 25, the last and final leader of the Soviet Union resigned and turned over all control to the Russian president at the time. Gorbachev (the last Soviet leader) was thought to be weak and a poor leader for the Communist nation.This created common wealth individual states and the Soviet flag was lowered in Kremlin. -
Collapse of Soviet Union (Extended)
The people once under control of the communist controlled regime was now under the laws of the Russian government. Once the Soviet Union dissolved the United States did not need to worry as much of their threat and the raising of Communism. For years their regime was knocking at America's front door and now there would no longer be that constant worrying due to the Soviets. It let America prosper as a country and it let America rest for the containment of communism. -
Citation/ Sources
NASA, NASA, history.nasa.gov/sputnik/. “Dissolution of the Soviet Union.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union. Dunbar, Brian. “The First Person on the Moon.” NASA, NASA, www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/first-person-on-moon.html -
Citation/ Sources (Extended)
Ghosh, Rohit. “U.S.A. vs U.S.S.R.: More Than Just a Game, 1972 Olympics.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3 Oct. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/1259046-usa-vs-ussr-more-than-just-a-game-1972-olympics. Network, The Learning. “Feb. 22, 1980 | U.S.A. Beats Soviet Union in 'Miracle on Ice'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Feb. 2012, learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/feb-22-1980-u-s-a-beats-soviet-union-in-miracle-on-ice/.
