What was the link between the launch of Sputnik I and the National Defense Education Act?

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I in 1957, prompting concern in the United States that it was falling behind in science and technology. In response, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act in 1958, which provided support for education in areas such as science, mathematics, and foreign languages. So the act was created in response to Sputnik I’s launch.

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