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Growth of a Nation, Unit 5 Above Level
The Cold War and the Space Race
By Maureen Blaney Flietner
Summary
When World War II ended, the United States and the Soviet Union took part
in the Cold War. The United States wanted its allies and other countries to be
free, while the Soviet Union wanted to defend itself by imposing communist rule
over its bordering countries in Eastern Europe. Tensions began with the Soviet
blockade of Berlin and peaked with the arms race between the two countries. The
improvement of rockets and missiles led to the space race. The Soviets achieved
many firsts, sending the first person into space. The United States ended the
space race when it sent astronauts to the Moon. Today with the International
Space Station, many countries have joined together to learn about space and how
it affects our lives.
Building Background
Build background for the book by allowing students to observe the book’s art and predict what
some of the topics covered will be. Make sure
students are familiar with the key vocabulary
and concepts. Encourage students to discuss and
share what they may already know about the
space race between the United States and the
Soviet Union.
Vocabulary
communism, ideology, propaganda, arms race,
satellite, space race
Comprehension Skill: Cause and Effect
A cause is why something happened. An effect is
what happened. A cause can have more than one
effect. An effect can have more than one cause.
Sometimes clue words such as reason, because,
so, since, and as a result help you figure out what
happened and why. As you read, look for causes
and effects about the space race between the
United States and the Soviet Union.
During Reading
Think Critically
1. What are four firsts that the Soviet Union
accomplished? (Sample answer: first ICBM,
first living being in space, first flight around
the Moon, first satellite, first person in orbit,
first space station)
2. What are the differences between the ideology of the United States and the ideology of
the Soviet Union? (The Soviet Union’s ideology of communism does not allow people to
be free. It does not allow people to own their
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own businesses or to own land. The ideology
of the United States believes that individuals
can own businesses and land and direct their
futures.)
3. Why was Laika put aboard Sputnik 2? (Soviet
scientists wanted to study a living being in
space.)
4. Why was it important for the United States
to be in the space race? (The United States
wanted to explore space, to show other countries that it was powerful enough to be in
space, and to learn more about Earth and
space.)
After Reading
Writing
Which country do you think was better suited to
take part in the arms race? Which country do you
think was most able to win the space race? Write
an essay comparing the two countries and the
two races they took part in. Write your essay on a
separate sheet of paper.
Organize Information
Graphic Organizer: Cause and Effect Chart.
Use the Cause and Effect Chart to list four causes
and effects about the space race between the
United States and the Soviet Union.
© Pearson Education, Inc.
Before Reading
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Name:
List four causes and effects about the space race between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
✔ List four causes and effects about the space race between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
✔ In the “Cause” boxes, list the causes.
✔ In the “Effect” boxes, list the effects.
Cause and Effect
Effect
© Pearson Education, Inc.
Cause
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