Please be seated right awayPlease be seated right away

• Notebook Notebook (you will need one)(you will need one)

• Pen/PencilPen/Pencil

• Your attention – I’m going to Your attention – I’m going to need all of the time I can get need all of the time I can get today!today!

Why did we Why did we do it?do it?

The decision to drop the The decision to drop the Atomic Bomb on Atomic Bomb on

JapanJapan

How was the idea conceived?

• Scientists in Europe study and conclude the potential power within an atom when it is split.

• Unrest in Europe scuttles and shuffles the research.

The Einstein Letter• Written by Albert

Einstein to F.D.R.

• October 11, 1939.

• Warned of the destructive force of the potential weapon.

• F.D.R. responds……

The Manhattan Project• Top-secret research project

designed to study atomic energy for weapons.

• F.D.R. approves the project in late October 1939.

• Fear of Hitler gaining this technology.

• Research facilities across the country.

The Manhattan Project

Manhattan Project Manhattan Project (cont.)(cont.)

• J. Robert Oppenheimer J. Robert Oppenheimer was put in charge of was put in charge of creating the bomb.creating the bomb.

• 125,000 workers – many 125,000 workers – many not knowing what they not knowing what they were working on.were working on.

• $2 billion dollar project.$2 billion dollar project.

Oppenheimer with General Leslie Groves

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN

F.D.R. Dies

April 12, 1945

in Warm Springs, GA

War in Europe EndsWar in Europe Ends

• Hitler commits suicide – Hitler commits suicide – April 30th, 1945April 30th, 1945

• V-E Day – May 8V-E Day – May 8thth, 1945, 1945

• Europe is in shambles.Europe is in shambles.

The Test…….

• Alamogordo Mtn. Range in New Mexico

• July, 16 1945

• Beginning of the Atomic Age.

“Gadget”

Trinity Test – July 16, 1945

“Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds.”

-Robert Oppenheimer

After the Trinity Test

“Now we are all son’s a bitches”

-Kenneth Bainbridge(Test Director)

After Oppenheimer’s quote

The War is Dragging on…..

• Yalta Conference February 4-11, 1945.

• Potsdam Conference July 16-Aug. 2, 1945.

• These Conferences start to shape the world…….

So now what ?!?!?• Harry S. Truman is in the White House.

• No end to War with Japan in sight.

• Japanese showing a strong will to continue to fight despite heavy losses.

• Conventional bombing raids on Japan continue.

• July 26, 1945 Truman issues a warning to Japan…………

Factors in Truman’s Decision

• Statistics.

• Longevity of the War.

• Soviet Union.

• $ 2 Billion spent on the program!

The Age of Atomic Fear Begins

• August 6, 1945 – Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima.

• Enola Gay (B-29) – based on Tinian Island.

• “Little Boy” Bomb – cloud reaches 50,000 ft in the air.

• Kills 80,000 people in seconds.

One more droppedOne more dropped• August 9,1945 –

Nagasaki – “Fat Man”

• Kills 70,000 people

• Japanese agree to surrender on August 14, 1945.

• Official Surrender occurs on September 2, 1945

What were the options?• Fight a conventional war by invading

Japan.

• Continue bombing Japan.

• Set-up an example on an island in the Pacific.

• Try to negotiate a peaceful settlement.

• Economic Blockade.

• Drop the bomb.

The EndThe End