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How Did Miracle On Ice Affect The Lives Of American People During The Cold War?

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“In the heart of every underdog beats the fire of greatness, and on that frozen battlefield, the miracle ignited an eternal flame of triumph.”

Miracle on ice was a historical hockey game during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Games in New York. The game took place on February 23, 1980, during the height of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union. The Soviet Union team consisted of generally professional players who had been playing together for quite some time, while the American team was made up of mainly amateur and collegiate players. During the final period of the game the Americans held a 4-3 lead. “When the final horn sounded, the more than 8,500 fans stood and cheered wildly in a salute to Uncle Sam’s youngsters and thousands …show more content…

Yes!”. How did Miracle on Ice affect the lives of American people during the cold war? The Miracle on Ice had a profound influence on the American public during the Cold War which symbolized the triumphant victory of the underdog and also the victory of a country on its last leg enduring the affairs with the soviets and other international matters as well, it gave the impression that the soviets were inferior to the U.S. which boosted the morale of American citizens during times of economic and political uncertainty, lastly after defeating the overwhelmingly …show more content…

The game not only showcased the athletic prowess of the American players but also created the impression that the seemingly invincible Soviets were inferior to the United States team. At the time, the United States was facing significant challenges on both the domestic and international fronts. Economically, the country was grappling with inflation, rising unemployment rates, and an energy crisis. Politically, there was a sense of disillusionment and mistrust following the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. Against this backdrop, the "Miracle on Ice" served as a much-needed source of inspiration and hope. The Soviet Union's ice hockey team was renowned for its dominance in the sport, having won numerous championships and Olympic gold medals. The American team, on the other hand, consisted mainly of amateur and college players, considered underdogs in the competition which was noted in the book, How a Stunning Upset United a Country: Miracle on Ice, Michael Burgan states “The Americans, on the other hand, were mostly college students”. However, the American players' determination, skill, and teamwork resulted in a stunning upset victory over the Soviet team. The triumph of the United

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