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One of the most significant American events in US history is "The Space Race" which lasted over a decade and concluded with putting two men on the Moon's surface. The Space Race is often considered one of the most influential ideological efforts in world history as it pitted the communist USSR against the capitalist United States in a battle for universal supremacy. While the Space Race was an effort to test the limits of where human beings could go, it was also motivated by a desire to prove the superiority of one nation over another as had been the case for for the USSR and the US since the end of WWII. In a country like the US, the Space Race was an extension of other attempts to displace communism, similar to events we have discussed in class, such as "The Red Scare" and "The Korean War." Americans, feared the any gains the USSR would make due to the fear of communism that had impacted American society more than it ever had before. The Space Race's impact on America and the world is worth a review.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Act in 1958

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Less than half a year after "Explorer 1" is sent into space, President Eisenhower signs into law the "National Aeronautics and Space Act." Officially creating NASA and cementing America's desire to give genuine pursuit to exploring, "activities in space" "for the benefit of all mankind" (as it states above). This kind of dedication showed that the Cold War fight was about more than just strength in numbers in countries outside of the two main players. This kind of dedication to creating a program dedicated to science and intellect, which was supported by the country as a whole, shows how unified the country was in its fear of communism. The fearmongering had clearly played of for those in congress, as it helped fund this project.

Link: https://www.archives.gov/space

Citation:

Congress.gov. "Text - H.R.12575 - 85th Congress (1957-1958): An Act to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the earths atmosphere, and for other purposes." July 29, 1958. https://www.congress.gov/bill/85th-congress/house-bill/12575/text.

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Kennedy's Speech at Rice University Sept. 12, 1962

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President John F. Kennedy gives a speech where he makes clear the US goal of landing on the Moon. Kennedy challenges America to accomplish not only sending a rocket into space (with Americans in it), landing on the moon, but to then "return it safely to earth" before the end of the decade.  This speech is crucial to understand where America was during the Cold War. Kennedy was rallying the American people by stating that we would accomplish this unnervingly large task and make clear that our intellectual and scientific dominance was far superior to the USSR. This starting of the clock is important because the US' biggest accomplishment, to this point, was sending John Glenn into orbit; far from Kennedy's goal.

Transcript of Speech: https://www.rice.edu/kennedy
Video of Speech (Part 1): https://catalog.archives.gov/id/83740210
Video of Speech (Part 2): https://catalog.archives.gov/id/83740212

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"Buzz" Aldrin posing with Flag on the Moon

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On July 20th, 1969 NASA, along with Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin, & Michael Collins (who orbited) landed on the Moon. The picture above displays "Buzz" standing next to the US flag that had been planted on the surface. While this was a massive achievement for NASA and a proud moment for America during a tense Cold War with the USSR, this was a "giant leap for mankind" as Armstrong said. This was a moment to show the entire world what can be achieved when investment is place in monumental goals like the one Kennedy had set nearly seven years earlier. While it was originally founded due to fears of communism, the end result was something that far surpassed any ideological hate.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/593743

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In conclusion, this American achievement is one that should be noted for its overall accomplishment for progressing how human beings can achieve the highest of their goals. Three other nations, including India most recently, have also landed on the Moon. Proving that this goal of landing on the Moon was something that made the human race believe that our limits do not chain ourselves to this earth. Post-World War Two America is known often for its shortcomings in its domestic policies, either through race, sexuality, or class degradations, it should also be celebrated for this global achievement that continues to bear fruit. This something to be proud of in Post-WWII America, even still today. As missions to Mars heat up over the following decades, it is important to remember the men and women who contributed to this original journey.