National Defense and Education Act (NDEA)

Definition

The NDEA was a law passed in 1958 that provided funding to improve American schools and promote postsecondary education. This was an effort to boost the country's technological prowess during the Cold War.

Analogy

Think of the NDEA as a personal trainer for America's educational system, helping it bulk up its muscles (science, technology, engineering, math skills) to compete in the global Olympics (the Cold War).

Related terms

Sputnik: The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by Soviet Union in 1957. Its launch sparked fear that America was falling behind technologically.

Cold War: A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and Soviet Union following World War II. It involved a race for supremacy in various fields including military might, space exploration, and technological advancement.

GI Bill: A law providing a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans including low-cost mortgages, loans to start businesses or farms, tuition and living expenses for university high school or vocational education.