INTRODUCTION

The Manhattan Project was probably the most consequential component of not just World War II, but also the future of world history.  The development of the atomic bomb not only brought an end to the War but also brought concern about the prospect of nuclear war which is still by all means relevant today.  You will learn how we got to this point through the science behind atomic bombs.  In addition, you will also gain insight into the decisions that were made during this time.

 

Many know that the Manhattan Project started around the beginning of World War II, but few actually know why it started in the first place.  As early as 1934, German scientists began a difficult project of synthesizing artificial elements beyond uranium.  Scientists initially thought that uranium would produce new heavy elements, but in 1938 they discovered something completely different.  The uranium was actually violently splitting into well-known lighter elements.  This became known as fission and Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard quickly realized that these nuclear chain reactions could create powerful atomic weapons.  Szilard and Albert Einstein quickly informed U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the possibility of the construction of an atomic bomb and in response, President Roosevelt formed the Advisory Committee on Uranium in 1939.  The fear was that Nazi Germany would develop an atomic bomb.  The committee concluded that a bomb could be developed in time to have a major impact on the War.  The Army Corps of Engineers established the Manhattan Engineer District after the U.S. entered the War.  Despite the Project including hundreds of thousands of workers, it was kept secret from the general public during the entire duration of the Project.

 

The Project was conducted in three cities, all acquired via eminent domain.  Oak Ridge, Tennessee served as the headquarters of the Project and included a pilot reactor and chemical separation plant to produce plutonium.  It also served as a place to enrich uranium.  Hanford, Washington included some more plants to enrich uranium and produce plutonium.  Los Alamos, New Mexico served as a development laboratory for the Project.  The production of plutonium was slow and not enough was developed until 1945.  This was followed by the successful testing of the bomb in southern New Mexico.

 

The dropping of the two bombs in Japan forever changed war throughout the world and ushered in a new era in history.