Space Exploration of the 60's

by: Micaela and Lainey

With the idea that whoever controls the space exploration controls the technological race as well, many countries tried to discover more ways to accomplish tasks of sending people to the outer space.

The most common misconception however, is that most people also believe that once you get to the moon, you can merely sent an missile down to destroy other nations. Science, in present day tells us otherwise, and in fact it is more effective to send a missile down from an airplane in the sky than from a shuttle in the moon.



The competition was mostly between the United States and the Soviet Union. Once the Soviets released the Sputnik 1, in October 4, 1957, Americans felt fear and threat. Given the first artificial satellite launched to orbit the earth, Soviets were impressed by their accomplishments. Americans believe that it will come easy to the Soviets to overtake the country once they make the launch successful because it will enable them to get a hold of more advance and dangerous weapons.



A month later, USSR launched their second satellite, Sputnik 2. This satellite contained the first living organism to ever travel outer space. A dog named Laika, was used to test if the shuttle conditions were appropriate and sufficient to support a man on space. When Laika came back with no psychological damages, they were confident enough to send a man in space.

As the US launched its first successful satellite, the Explorer 1, the government gave way to more studies done in the space exploration field. The Eisenhower administration passed the National Defense Educational Act. This act allowed the government to spend more $1 billion for a wide range of reforms. Such including new school construction, fellowships and loans to encourage promising students to seek higher education, new efforts in vocational education to meet critical manpower shortages in the defense industry, and a host of other programs (1959).

On the other hand, Pres. Kennedy (1962) decided to start a program developing the space race. The goal of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was to send the first man to walk the moon. However, they were not able to send a man outer space until four months after the launching of Sputnik 1.



On July 20, 1969, US achieved their goal, and astronaut Neil Armstrong took his first steps in the moon. With this accomplishment, universities started to expand their space programs. These space programs spent a huge federal funding for research, and development which also gave rise to new industries and new technologies for the country.

Once again, the United States accomplishing this task of sending a man on space opened more opportunities to explore the world beyond the planet. The space race was a good way of proving the country's self worth and allowed for development of better technologies for the future.

Culture in the 1950's

by: Lainey and Micaela

Coming from World War II, the United States industry and manufacturing is still recovering from the traumatic experience that the war had put it through. However, the era of the 1950's is considered to be one of the turning points of American History due to the economic rise as well as its dominating industrialization. It allowed the recovery to be a fast and easy transition and made it able to progress.

During this time period, there are many inventions that have helped make America more efficient and known for its capabilities. Inventions such as automobiles helped transportation from city jobs to home much more convenient. In these times, suburban living made owning a car a necessity. jobs, churches synagogues schools stores and doctor's and dentists' offices were not walking distances it was essential to owning a car. Cars also added better ways for leisure by traveling and made people more connected with family from distant towns.


Also drive-ins and drive-thru's were very popular. families would go and watch a movie at the drive-in or go to drive-thru to get some fast food. waitresses would wear fancy uniforms or roller skates which was added to the fun of front seat dining.


In addition, there are also media improvement and the entertainment of the American citizen is now one of the sources of income for many businesses. More technological outlets for radios and movies are becoming even more popular to the average citizen. More and more people are accustomed to these areas of entertainment available to them. in 1948, there are 18500 movie theatres that draws in 90 million paid admissions for week. However, the invention of better television decreased the number of moviegoers. by 1954, 50% of movies were in color, and this helped attract more and more audience.

In the musical genre, there are more kinds of music being discovered. Music such as rock and roll were becoming popular with the generation and those such as; Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Bill Haley were becoming icons for the teens. They help involve more people in the musical department which helped boost the production of instruments. This started the era of musicians and other forms of artistic talents begins to surface.


Even though many other countries were trying hard to salvage what is left after the second World War, United States was able to turn their luck around and start the era of production and entertainment. This not only made America able to give itself a whole new meaning, but it also allowed the country to prosper.

Women's Rise to Power

Written by: Madelaine

As time goes on, women have finally realized that there is more to life than sewing, cooking and washing. The fight for equal rights between men and women has started with simple boycotts of tea and other ‘industrialized’ technology, such as sewing machines, in the 70’s. Other women have their husbands supporting their ideals and took more distinct actions in helping voice the problem out to everyone such as Sarah Morris Mifflin (right picture). Some, like, Cady Stanton as well as Lucretia Mott launched the suffrage movement in 1848. In hopes for not only equal rights, they specifically pursued the right to vote and have their opinions voiced out. They also pushed the matter of lack of suffrage for women and in 1920, they finally gained the 19^th Amendment. This amendment states that women can finally be free to vote for whomever they believe in.
When the 1900s rolled along, women have been fighting for same status and economic rights as men- such as higher work positions and political power. Factory women feels that there is a gap between salary when some can do better jobs and have better skills in factory than men. This led to more women supporting the movement and for them to be able not only to gain rights but equality and respect-same amount, as what men are rewarded to. Nowadays, there are 60 women serving in the House as Representatives and 13 serving in the Senate. This states that when people work together for the same cause for the better, they can overcome even the impossible obstacles.