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Jfk And The Space Race Essay

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JFK and the Space Race
INTRO
Before the causes and results of Kennedy’s decision to land on the moon can be adequately analyzed and discussed, it is necessary to understand the context of his time as President and the events that preceded it. Therefore, I will provide a small amount of context about the Cold War and the situation leading up to Kennedy’s “We choose to go to the moon” speech on September 12, 1962. (Citation).
After the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union became embroiled in what is now known as the Cold War, this was both an international competition between two countries, and an ideological confrontation between capitalism and communism. This led to direct and indirect competition on many fronts, such as proxy wars and police actions, the Olympics, the Nuclear Arms Race, and the Space Race. (Citation).
Although there is disagreement on the precise date that the Space Race began, the moment that it became an important competition that was in the forefront of the minds of everyday Americans is on April 12, 1961 when Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the earth in Vostok 1. (citation). This event created a feeling amongst the American public that the Russians were further ahead in science and technology than the United States, as well as the fear that the Soviets could use their superior technology to be better able to attack the USA from a distance. Shortly after Gagarin’s flight, the United States launched astronaut Alan Sheppard into

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