Manhattan Project Research Paper

Words: 650
Pages: 3

On July 16th, 1945, the world completely changed forever. J. Robert Oppenheimer set off the world’s first atomic bomb. This invention would transform the world as it was known in 1945. This terrifying device will bring devastation, fear, and loss to all. This paper delves into the scientists behind the discovery of nuclear reactions, the development of the Manhattan project, and the unprecedented bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Many scientists contributed to the process of ultimately figuring out how to create a nuclear reaction. Starting in 1789 with the discovery of uranium (one of the most common isotopes used in nuclear weapons) which sparked the curiosity of scientists to conduct further research on the idea of radioactivity. Key
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The Manhattan Project, approved by President Roosevelt, was made because of the fear Germany was making their own atomic bomb. Leslie Groves and J. Robert Oppenheimer were the main overseers of this massive project. The article “Atomic Bomb History” says, “Much of the work in the Manhattan Project was performed in Los Alamos, New Mexico, under the direction of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father of the atomic bomb’.” They were able to combine the power of scientists and military leaders to create an atomic bomb before any other country. Now, they needed to test the bomb at a site called Trinity Oppenheimer. The article “Manhattan Project” states, “The explosion came as an intense light flash, a sudden wave of heat, and later a tremendous roar as the shock wave passed and echoed in the valley.” Shortly after more bombs were produced for the unfortunate bombing of Japan which proved just how disastrous this bomb …show more content…
The war in Europe had ended, but Japan was not willing to surrender despite President Truman’s Potsdam Declaration. The article “Atomic Bomb History'' says, “On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped its first atomic bomb from a B-29 bomber plane.over the city of Hiroshima, Japan.” The explosion killed 8,000 people instantly but still Japan did not surrender so just 3 days later another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. It is estimated over 170,000 people died from the bombings. On August 15th the Emperor of Japan surrendered. The article also states, “Citing the devastating power of ‘a new and most cruel bomb,’ Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s surrender on August 15th.ending World War II.” At last, after 6 years of fighting, the atomic bomb had ended World War