Question

What was the National Defense Education Act?

Answer 1

The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was signed into law on September 2, 1958, providing funding to United States education institutions at all levels.

Explanation:

The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was signed into law on September 2, 1958, providing funding to United States education institutions at all levels.

NDEA was among many science initiatives implemented by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 to increase the technological sophistication and power of the United States.

Leading up to the Act, it was felt that the US was falling behind in technological advancement and in particular falling behind the Russians (who at that time was the arch-enemy of the US). The effort to pass the Act galvanized when Russia had early success with its space program.

NDEA was part of several initiatives aimed to bring funding to scientists and scientific endeavours and allow them to work. Other initiatives at the time was the establishment of NASA and DARPA (which is the Defense Departments' research arm).

There's a lot more about it here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Education_Act