Manhattan Manhattan ProjectProject

Developing the Developing the Atomic BombAtomic Bomb

Please get out your Please get out your notebook and a pen or notebook and a pen or

pencil.pencil.

Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project

The Manhattan The Manhattan project not only project not only helped bring an helped bring an end to World War end to World War II, but it also II, but it also advanced the advanced the knowledge of knowledge of atomic energy - atomic energy - and determined and determined how future wars how future wars might be fought.might be fought.

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

““Manhattan Manhattan Project” was a Project” was a code name to code name to keep the project keep the project concealed.concealed.

The Manhattan The Manhattan Project involved 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 remained top

secret throughout secret throughout World War II.World War II.

Project research Project research and development and development sites were located sites were located

all across the all across the United States.United States.

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein In 1939, physicist In 1939, physicist

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein wrote a letter to wrote a letter to President Franklin President Franklin Roosevelt warning Roosevelt warning that Germany was that Germany was secretly trying to secretly trying to develop an atomic develop an atomic bomb and urged bomb and urged that the United that the United States do likewise.States do likewise.

Einstein’s Letter to FDREinstein’s Letter to FDR

President Franklin President Franklin RooseveltRoosevelt Roosevelt wrote back Roosevelt wrote back

to Einstein, to Einstein, informing him that informing him that the president had the president had 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 the first atomic bomb.bomb.

LocationsLocations Research and Research and

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

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

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

Manhattan Project Manhattan Project Leaders Leaders Many people were Many people were

involved in the project involved in the project including including administrators, administrators, researchers, scientists, researchers, scientists, and more.and more.

Top picture: Albert Top picture: Albert Einstein and Leo Einstein and Leo SzilardSzilard

Bottom Picture: J. Bottom Picture: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Enrico Fermi, and Ernest Lawrence Ernest Lawrence

J. Robert OppenheimerJ. Robert Oppenheimer Oppenheimer eagerly Oppenheimer eagerly

joined the project at joined the project at Lawrence's Radiation Lawrence's Radiation Laboratory at Laboratory at Berkeley.Berkeley.

In June 1942 he was In June 1942 he was appointed the appointed the scientific director of scientific director of the Project.the Project.

He managed over He managed over 3,000 people and is 3,000 people and is often referred as the often referred as the “father” of the atomic “father” of the atomic bomb.bomb.

Enrico FermiEnrico Fermi

Born in Italy, Fermi Born in Italy, Fermi created a nuclear created a nuclear fission chain fission chain reaction, which was reaction, which was critical to creating critical to creating the atomic bomb. the atomic bomb.

In 1944, he joined In 1944, he joined the Manhattan the Manhattan Project and was the Project and was the overseer of the overseer of the scientists.scientists.

Ernest LawrenceErnest Lawrence During WWII, During WWII,

Lawrence was in Lawrence was in charge of the charge of the electromagnetic electromagnetic separation work at separation work at Oak Ridge which Oak Ridge which provided uranium 235 provided uranium 235 for the atomic bomb .for the atomic bomb .

He was known as the He was known as the “Atomic Smasher” “Atomic Smasher” and the man who and the man who “held the key” to “held the key” to atomic energy.atomic energy.

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, NM.near Albuquerque, 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.feet.

The bomb generated an The bomb generated an explosive power explosive power equivalent to 20,000 equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT.tons of TNT.

SuccessSuccess The Trinity Test The Trinity Test

was successful.was successful. This was the This was the

world’s first ever world’s first ever atomic explosion.atomic explosion.

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

Truman decided to use Truman decided to use the atomic bomb to the atomic bomb to hasten the end of the hasten the end of the war, two more atomic war, two more atomic bombs were created by bombs were created by the Manhattan Project.the Manhattan Project.

The uranium “Little The uranium “Little Boy” bomb was dropped Boy” bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.6, 1945.

The plutonium “Fat The plutonium “Fat Man” bomb was dropped Man” bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.9, 1945.

The AftermathThe AftermathPresident Harry President Harry Truman’s decision to Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb is drop the atomic bomb is one of the most one of the most controversial in American controversial in American History.History.The use of two atomic The use of two atomic bombs in early August bombs in early August 1945 helped bring an end 1945 helped bring an end to World War II less than to World War II less than one month later, when one month later, when the Japanese surrendered the Japanese surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945. But the on Sept. 2, 1945. But the damage and loss of life damage and loss of life caused by these two caused by these two bombs was staggering.bombs was staggering.

70th Anniversary Aug. 1945 – Aug. 2015

The Cold War began…The Cold War began…