QOD 12/18QOD 12/18

Identify the Manhattan Project.Identify the Manhattan Project.

Manhattan Manhattan ProjectProjectDeveloping the Atomic Developing the Atomic

BombBomb

This was a project This was a project to develop the to develop the first atomic bomb first atomic bomb during World War during World War II.II.

““Manhattan Manhattan ProjectProject”” was a was a code name to code name to keep the project keep the project concealedconcealed..

The project involved The project involved roughly 125,000 roughly 125,000 people and cost people and cost more than $2 more than $2 billion, yet it billion, yet it remained top secret remained top secret throughout WWII.throughout WWII.

Project research Project research and productions and productions sites took place all sites took place all across the United across the United States.States.

Why did we build the Why did we build the atomic bombs?atomic bombs?

In 1939, Albert In 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a Einstein wrote a letter to President letter to President Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Roosevelt warning that warning that Germany was Germany was secretly trying to secretly trying to develop an atomic develop an atomic bomb and urged bomb and urged U.S to do likewise.U.S to do likewise.

EinsteinEinstein’’s Letters Letter

President Franklin President Franklin RooseveltRoosevelt

Roosevelt wrote Roosevelt wrote Einstein back Einstein back informing him that he informing him that he immediately set up a immediately set up a committee to begin committee to begin atomic research.atomic research.

FDR believed the FDR believed the United States could United States could not take the risk of not take the risk of waiting and allowing waiting and allowing Hitler to have the Hitler to have the power of developing power of developing the first atomic bomb.the first atomic bomb.

LocationsLocations

Research and Research and production sites of production sites of the Manhattan the Manhattan Project were located Project were located all across the United all across the United States.States.

Laboratories and Laboratories and manufacturing manufacturing facilities were facilities were secretly constructed secretly constructed just for project.just for project.

Main project research locations of the United StatesMain project research locations of the United States

J. Robert OppenheimerJ. Robert Oppenheimer Scientific director of Scientific director of

the Project.the Project. Referred to as the Referred to as the

““fatherfather”” of the atomic of the atomic bombbomb

Managed all of the Managed all of the sites sites

““I am become death, the I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”destroyer of worlds.”Quotation from Bhagavad Gita, recalled by Oppenheimer as he watched the first atomic explosion at Trinity.

The Trinity TestThe Trinity Test On July 16, 1945, the On July 16, 1945, the

first atomic bomb was first atomic bomb was exploded at the exploded at the Alamogordo air base Alamogordo air base near Albuquerque, near Albuquerque, NM.NM.

A ball of fire rose A ball of fire rose rapidly, followed by a rapidly, followed by a mushroom cloud mushroom cloud extending to 40,000 extending to 40,000 feet and 2,400 feet feet and 2,400 feet wide.wide.

SuccessSuccess The Trinity Test The Trinity Test

resulted in great resulted in great success.success.

This was the worldThis was the world’’s s first ever atomic first ever atomic explosion.explosion.

After President Harry After President Harry Truman received the Truman received the word, he knew the word, he knew the atomic bomb would atomic bomb would create a great create a great advantage in World advantage in World War II.War II.

Truman in Potsdam, Germany after receiving word that the Trinity Test was a success.

Use of Atomic Bombs in Use of Atomic Bombs in WWIIWWII

It was finally decided to It was finally decided to use the atomic bomb in use the atomic bomb in the war and two more the war and two more atomic bombs were atomic bombs were created by the project.created by the project.

The uranium The uranium ““Little BoyLittle Boy”” bomb was dropped on bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.1945.

The plutonium The plutonium ““Fat BoyFat Boy”” bomb was dropped on bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.1945.

ConclusionConclusion President Harry TrumanPresident Harry Truman’’s s

decision to drop the decision to drop the atomic bomb is one of the atomic bomb is one of the most controversial issues most controversial issues in American History.in American History.

The creation of the Atomic The creation of the Atomic Bomb helped bring an end Bomb helped bring an end to World War II.to World War II.

it also advanced the it also advanced the knowledge of the atomic knowledge of the atomic age and determined how age and determined how future wars would be future wars would be fought.fought.