Library of Congress
Loc: Revelations From the Russian Archives
This particular page from the Library of Congress is the homepage with an outline of hyperlinks to numerous articles that could provide background information regarding the former Soviet Union.
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Sputnik's Legacy
This exploratory article (published September 11, 1997) outlines the history of the Sputnik Space program, but also includes the response within the United States educational system to speedily ramp up the study of science, math and...
NASA
Nasa: The International Geophysical Year
This site from NASA outlines the Sputnik program and the political underworkings that allowed it to reach fruition.