During my sophomore year, I took AP European History and I loved the course. At first, I wanted to my project on Alfred Nobel’s invention of dynamite, but learned that my NHD project has to be American history. Then, I browsed online for significant historical events that met the required American history aspect, but also included my interest in European History. When I came across the Cold War, I thought it would be perfect because it was between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, the topic was too broad and I had to narrow it down. I researched the Cold War and learned about the Space Race, but like the Cold War, the topic was too broad. When I came across the launch of Sputnik 1, which started the Space Race, which in turn resulted in increased tensions during the Cold War, I knew this was the perfect topic for me. It is such a revolutionary event in history that is overlooked by many.
I conducted research on the Sputnik launch from September to late November. The Internet is a great resource with endless information and I did most of my research on the Internet. On YouTube, I found live newscasts back in the 1950s-1960s and even the sound the Sputnik satellite made. I gathered mostly primary sources for my National History Day project. I was very lucky to stumble upon political cartoons about the Sputnik 1 and the Space Race. Using national archives, I was also able to find released documents from the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. Some secondary sources I gathered were books, where I found facts and quotes.
In 7th grade, I competed with a historical paper. I remembered how difficult it was to write one, so I knew I did not want to do a paper. I chose to do a website because I like working on computers and a website would allow me to channel my creativeness. I started my NHD project by conducting research and gathering sources. I made my bibliography as I was gathering sources. Then I started to work on my website. I scanned my sources and identified the main topics that are relevant to the theme “Turning Points in History.”
The launch of Sputnik 1 relates to the NHD theme, “Turning Points in History,” because it revolutionized the world and “woke” America up. The Space Race resulted from the launch of Sputnik 1 and it increased the tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. American education also improved significantly due to Sputnik 1 due to the increased focus on science and mathematics. Many of the technological advancements today would not have happened till much later if the Soviets did not launch Sputnik 1 in 1958. Sputnik 1 was the first domino to fall, impacting everything else after it. It single-handedly changed the world to be what it is today.
I conducted research on the Sputnik launch from September to late November. The Internet is a great resource with endless information and I did most of my research on the Internet. On YouTube, I found live newscasts back in the 1950s-1960s and even the sound the Sputnik satellite made. I gathered mostly primary sources for my National History Day project. I was very lucky to stumble upon political cartoons about the Sputnik 1 and the Space Race. Using national archives, I was also able to find released documents from the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. Some secondary sources I gathered were books, where I found facts and quotes.
In 7th grade, I competed with a historical paper. I remembered how difficult it was to write one, so I knew I did not want to do a paper. I chose to do a website because I like working on computers and a website would allow me to channel my creativeness. I started my NHD project by conducting research and gathering sources. I made my bibliography as I was gathering sources. Then I started to work on my website. I scanned my sources and identified the main topics that are relevant to the theme “Turning Points in History.”
The launch of Sputnik 1 relates to the NHD theme, “Turning Points in History,” because it revolutionized the world and “woke” America up. The Space Race resulted from the launch of Sputnik 1 and it increased the tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. American education also improved significantly due to Sputnik 1 due to the increased focus on science and mathematics. Many of the technological advancements today would not have happened till much later if the Soviets did not launch Sputnik 1 in 1958. Sputnik 1 was the first domino to fall, impacting everything else after it. It single-handedly changed the world to be what it is today.