United States History

The space race

In Postwar North Carolina, page 1.9

An overview and timeline of the U.S. space program from the Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957 through the 1969–72 moon landings. Includes links to NASA's websites about each mission.

Format: article

John F. Kennedy

In Postwar North Carolina, page 1.7

An overview of the presidency of John F. Kennedy, 1961–63, including his management of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Format: article

Interstate highways from the ground up

In Postwar North Carolina, page 2.3

NCDOT resident engineer Stan Hyatt lived in Madison County most of his life, and he loved hunting and exploring the mountain when he was younger. He helped design and build I-26, a project that meant the destruction of some of the environment where he grew up. He talks about the costs and benefits of highway construction in this interview.

Format: interview

By Kristin Post.

The Interstate Highway System

In Postwar North Carolina, page 2.2

Planning for an improved national system of highways had begun during the Depression, but it was not until 1956 that President Eisenhower called for a "modern, interstate highway system."

Format: article

Adapted by David Walbert.

Bombs over Goldsboro

In Postwar North Carolina, page 1.8

In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 2.12

On January 24, 1961, a B-52 jet carrying two nuclear bombs crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina. When one of the bombs was found, its arming mechanism had accidentally gone through all but one of the seven steps toward detonation, and a piece of the bomb containing uranium was never recovered.

Format: article

Resources on the web

Submarines: Underway on nuclear power

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students consider the role of nuclear submarines during the Cold War. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic