The Space Age was inaugurated with the launching of Sputnik I on October 4, 1957. Yet astronautics originated in the early nineteenth century. As early as 1819 Konstantine E. Ziolkovsky, the "founding father' of Russian space science, predicted the of a space rocket employing liquid fuel and liquid oxygen capable of thrusting man into space. From 1957 to 1961, Russian spaceships were the first top carry live animals, to reach the vicinity of the moon and orbit the sun, and to photograph the far side of the moon. While America was reaching significant scientific progress, Russia clearly dominated the excitement of space exploration.

Alexander Dubeek was the leader of Czechoslovakia when it was invaded by Russia. He reformed the nations government into liberalism. He was afterwards arrested and taken to Moscow. Gustav Husãk replaced him.

Although West Germans were denied the right to cross into East Berlin, the crisis soon eased. The flow of refugees was stopped and East Germany began a period of extraordinary economic growth. The West accepted the Berlin Wall as eth best solution to a bad situation, with the realization that both Khrushchev and Ulbricht had been forced into this action by circumstances that might have led to war.

In 1963, The Beatles get their first U.S. rock'n'roll hit with "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."

In 1962, Algeria won its freedom from France. It had been an integral part of France since 1945.

There were many other major historical events in the nineteen sixty's. These major affairs are as follows;

In 1961, the Berlin wall was built to prevent war from breaking out between Russia and the other inhibitors of Berlin.

The major idea that remained throughout the sixties in Europe was of a greater focus on culture and society. The perfect example of this is the results of the Second Vatican Council concerning the Roman Catholic Church. Communism was the opposition to this reformation. When Dubeek attempted to make his nation liberal and broadminded, he had plans for the creation of "socialism with a human face." This feeling was reflected all over the nations of Europe and in the culture of America as well. Experimentation and new social practices entered the world of individuals. The fleeing East Germans wanted to escape to a place they could be free from social oppression. Other movements that had great influence on the decade were that of Space exploration, an increase in social focus on music and recreational drugs, and the liberalism of different groups and organizations.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2312
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)