Secondary sources
Jalen
The Manhattan Project
Scientists Albert Einstein, who fled from Nazi Germany, and Enrico Fermi, who escaped from fascist Italy, both were living in the United States during World War II. Early in 1939, the scientific community of the world had discovered that German physicists had discovered how to split a uranium atom. Fears soon spread of Nazi scientists using this advancement to develop weapons of mass destruction. Einstein and Fermi both agreed that the United States President should be aware of the threats of the Axis powers using atomic technology. Fermi unsuccessfully tried to express his concerns to government officials. Later that year, Einstein sent a letter to President Roosevelt urging the development of an atomic research program. Although Roosevelt did not truly see the necessity of such a program, he slowly agreed. The Manhattan Project, was the United States' attempt to develop an atomic bomb.
Research began at a few universities in the United States. At the University of Chicago in December of 1942, Fermi led a group of physicists to a breakthrough. They produced the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. After this breakthrough the project was allocated more funds, and quickly picked up speed. New nuclear facilities were built in several states, and over 120,000 Americans were employed by the Manhattan Project. The project was never made public, as they did not want to inform their enemies of their research. Although over 120,000 people were employed to work on the project, only a small group of important scientists and officials knew what the project was. They did not tell anyone who did not need to know, in order to ensure secrecy. Vice President Truman only found out about the project after he became President. By the summer of 1945, the first test bombs were developed and ready. In the New Mexico desert, tests proceeded and were successful, thus plunging the world in to a nuclear age.
Scientists Albert Einstein, who fled from Nazi Germany, and Enrico Fermi, who escaped from fascist Italy, both were living in the United States during World War II. Early in 1939, the scientific community of the world had discovered that German physicists had discovered how to split a uranium atom. Fears soon spread of Nazi scientists using this advancement to develop weapons of mass destruction. Einstein and Fermi both agreed that the United States President should be aware of the threats of the Axis powers using atomic technology. Fermi unsuccessfully tried to express his concerns to government officials. Later that year, Einstein sent a letter to President Roosevelt urging the development of an atomic research program. Although Roosevelt did not truly see the necessity of such a program, he slowly agreed. The Manhattan Project, was the United States' attempt to develop an atomic bomb.
Research began at a few universities in the United States. At the University of Chicago in December of 1942, Fermi led a group of physicists to a breakthrough. They produced the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. After this breakthrough the project was allocated more funds, and quickly picked up speed. New nuclear facilities were built in several states, and over 120,000 Americans were employed by the Manhattan Project. The project was never made public, as they did not want to inform their enemies of their research. Although over 120,000 people were employed to work on the project, only a small group of important scientists and officials knew what the project was. They did not tell anyone who did not need to know, in order to ensure secrecy. Vice President Truman only found out about the project after he became President. By the summer of 1945, the first test bombs were developed and ready. In the New Mexico desert, tests proceeded and were successful, thus plunging the world in to a nuclear age.
Hiroshima: Why America Dropped the Bomb
The use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved to be one of the most controversial decisions in United States and world history. As the years pass on, the controversy continues to grow, and many different sources have analysed Truman's decision in harsh ways. By 1945 the Pacific War had been going on for four years. In a time of World War, where there were millions of American casualties, President Truman decided to choose an option that would reduce his countries' loss of life. Although the Japanese had been subjected to months of devastating destruction from the United State's air attacks, Japan refused to surrender. Japanese military and civilian casualties had reached almost 3 million, yet the end was not soon in sight.
The other option for President Truman was to go forth with a costly invasion of Japan. This would cost both sides of the war many lives. Truman felt that the use of atomic attacks would shock the Japanese in to surrender, and would ultimately result in less deaths than the alternative. Also, there were thousands of American prisoners of war that would have been executed if the United States had launched an invasion against Japan. Truman felt that he was choosing the least awful option, of the options that were given to him. Although this article does make some very strong points for justification of the use of atomic bombs, I can not completely agree with these statements. An estimate of 80% of the deaths caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were of civilians. Japan had ignored the American's ultimatum of "prompt and utter destruction", but I do not believe that America had clearly outlined this to the Japanese people. The United States should have clearly stated the type of weaponry they had, capable of destroying hundreds of thousands of innocent people in a single attack, before actually going through with it.
The use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved to be one of the most controversial decisions in United States and world history. As the years pass on, the controversy continues to grow, and many different sources have analysed Truman's decision in harsh ways. By 1945 the Pacific War had been going on for four years. In a time of World War, where there were millions of American casualties, President Truman decided to choose an option that would reduce his countries' loss of life. Although the Japanese had been subjected to months of devastating destruction from the United State's air attacks, Japan refused to surrender. Japanese military and civilian casualties had reached almost 3 million, yet the end was not soon in sight.
The other option for President Truman was to go forth with a costly invasion of Japan. This would cost both sides of the war many lives. Truman felt that the use of atomic attacks would shock the Japanese in to surrender, and would ultimately result in less deaths than the alternative. Also, there were thousands of American prisoners of war that would have been executed if the United States had launched an invasion against Japan. Truman felt that he was choosing the least awful option, of the options that were given to him. Although this article does make some very strong points for justification of the use of atomic bombs, I can not completely agree with these statements. An estimate of 80% of the deaths caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were of civilians. Japan had ignored the American's ultimatum of "prompt and utter destruction", but I do not believe that America had clearly outlined this to the Japanese people. The United States should have clearly stated the type of weaponry they had, capable of destroying hundreds of thousands of innocent people in a single attack, before actually going through with it.
jack
WW2 People's War
On August 6th 1945 a bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. Between 60,000 and 80,000 people were killed as soon as the atomic bomb exploded. Many people died because of the long term radiation causes. The final death count was around 135,000 people which included some Korean citizens who were forced to come to Hiroshima for labour. The bomb engulfed the city on fire which lasted 3 days. Hiroshima was chosen because the Americans felt that it was a suitable place for them to test the atomic bomb.
3 days on August 9th 1945, the Americans dropped a bigger bomb which was intended for Kokura but hit Nagasaki. The bomb killed 40,000 people and the end death toll being 50,000. On August 14th 1945 the Japanese surrendered agreeing to allied terms. Hiroshima was then rebuilt as a peace memorial city.
On August 6th 1945 a bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. Between 60,000 and 80,000 people were killed as soon as the atomic bomb exploded. Many people died because of the long term radiation causes. The final death count was around 135,000 people which included some Korean citizens who were forced to come to Hiroshima for labour. The bomb engulfed the city on fire which lasted 3 days. Hiroshima was chosen because the Americans felt that it was a suitable place for them to test the atomic bomb.
3 days on August 9th 1945, the Americans dropped a bigger bomb which was intended for Kokura but hit Nagasaki. The bomb killed 40,000 people and the end death toll being 50,000. On August 14th 1945 the Japanese surrendered agreeing to allied terms. Hiroshima was then rebuilt as a peace memorial city.
The Decision to Drop the Bomb
When the Manhattan project succeeded, which was the project of creating the atomic bomb, Harry S Truman had to make the decision of either using the bomb against Japan to end the war or not. When Truman decided to use the bomb, he justified it by saying that if he were to send casualties into Hiroshima, more lives would have been taken than the bombing which was fast and less death rate in his opinion.
Many people believe that the Americans had ulterior motives to dropping the bombs. Many people believe that the bombs were used to show the Soviets the power and strength that they had. Many of the historians also believe that Japan had already surrendered and the use of nuclear weapon was unnecessary and uncalled for.
When the Manhattan project succeeded, which was the project of creating the atomic bomb, Harry S Truman had to make the decision of either using the bomb against Japan to end the war or not. When Truman decided to use the bomb, he justified it by saying that if he were to send casualties into Hiroshima, more lives would have been taken than the bombing which was fast and less death rate in his opinion.
Many people believe that the Americans had ulterior motives to dropping the bombs. Many people believe that the bombs were used to show the Soviets the power and strength that they had. Many of the historians also believe that Japan had already surrendered and the use of nuclear weapon was unnecessary and uncalled for.
Cyrus
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese army managed to destroy eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. The day after the Pearl Harbor attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan; Congress approved his declaration with just one dissenting vote. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared war on the United States, and again Congress reciprocated. More than two years into the conflict, America had finally joined World War II.
Around 8:10 am was around that time when the Japanese planes dropped a 1,800-pound bomb, which smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona. This ship sank and exploded with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. After that, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma, with 400 sailors aboard. By the time the attack was over, ever battleship in Pearl Harbor–USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada–had sustained significant damage. (All but USS Arizona and USS Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.) Majority of this attack, 2,500 men were killed and another 1,000 were wounded.
On December 7, 1941, Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The Japanese army managed to destroy eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. The day after the Pearl Harbor attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan; Congress approved his declaration with just one dissenting vote. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared war on the United States, and again Congress reciprocated. More than two years into the conflict, America had finally joined World War II.
Around 8:10 am was around that time when the Japanese planes dropped a 1,800-pound bomb, which smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona. This ship sank and exploded with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. After that, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma, with 400 sailors aboard. By the time the attack was over, ever battleship in Pearl Harbor–USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada–had sustained significant damage. (All but USS Arizona and USS Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.) Majority of this attack, 2,500 men were killed and another 1,000 were wounded.
The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The atomic bomb destroyed 90 percent of the city and killed 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would die of radiation exposure. Three days after prior to this atomic bomb explosion, another B-29 dropped A-bomb on Nagasaki, killing about 40,000 people.
Hiroshima, a center of 350,000 people located about 500 miles from Tokyo, was selected as the first target. The plane dropped the bomb known as “Little Boy” by a parachute at 8:15 in the morning, and it exploded 2,000 feet above Hiroshima in a blast equal to 12-15,000 tons on TNT, destroying five square miles of the city. Hiroshima’s devastation failed to immediate Japanese surrender, but on August 9, Major Charles Sweeney flew another B-29 bomber where Sweeney did a secondary target, Nagasaki, where the “Fat Man” was dropped at 11:02 that morning. More powerful than the one used at Hiroshima, the bomb weighed nearly 10,000 pounds and was built to produce a 22-kiloton blast. Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on August 15, citing the devastating power of “a new and most cruel bomb.”
On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The atomic bomb destroyed 90 percent of the city and killed 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would die of radiation exposure. Three days after prior to this atomic bomb explosion, another B-29 dropped A-bomb on Nagasaki, killing about 40,000 people.
Hiroshima, a center of 350,000 people located about 500 miles from Tokyo, was selected as the first target. The plane dropped the bomb known as “Little Boy” by a parachute at 8:15 in the morning, and it exploded 2,000 feet above Hiroshima in a blast equal to 12-15,000 tons on TNT, destroying five square miles of the city. Hiroshima’s devastation failed to immediate Japanese surrender, but on August 9, Major Charles Sweeney flew another B-29 bomber where Sweeney did a secondary target, Nagasaki, where the “Fat Man” was dropped at 11:02 that morning. More powerful than the one used at Hiroshima, the bomb weighed nearly 10,000 pounds and was built to produce a 22-kiloton blast. Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on August 15, citing the devastating power of “a new and most cruel bomb.”