<span>African-Americans helped the Republican party in the South by voting for Republicans in local, state, and national elections during the era of Reconstruction. The era of Reconstruction, which took place right after the Civil War, resulted in African-American men gaining the ability to vote. They used this power to support Republicans, as Lincoln and many other Republicans advocated for more legal rights for African-Americans. Besides voting rights, most Republicans supported the 14th amendment. This amendment helped to grant citizenship to all former slaves who were born on US soil. </span>
The author states that the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik caused the United States to begin investing in science, technology, and innovation. Sputnik’s successful launch caused this reaction in the United States because the Cold War led Americans to fear the possibility of the Soviet Union leading the world in science and technology. Rather than give in to fear or hide from challenges, the United States stepped up and made a commitment to science, math, and innovation.
