The Russians Put the First Man in Space

Each country wanted to show the world who had the better system. The Russians built a big rocket, launched it into space and put a satellite into space around the earth called Sputnik. Then the Americans put a chimpanzee into space. So I can't own my own toys. That sounds like a poor idea. What do you think the Americans thought? Since they realised that the Russians had put the first man into space.