American Research And Development Of An Atomic Bomb

It was August, 1939. United States President Franklin Roosevelt read a letter sent to him from prominent scientists Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard. The purpose of this letter was to inform the President that the Germans supposedly discovered the secrets to developing nuclear weaponry and to urge the President to do the same. This letter changed the course of human history, setting the stage for the development of weapons that would alter warfare forever (Primary Sources: Letter from Einstein to FDR). The Manhattan Project was the code-name given to the American research and development of an atomic bomb. The high-stakes chess game of World War II was in full swing, and every move each side played created a chain reaction throughout the world, as did the news of the German’s advancements. Even though the United States would not officially enter the war until 1941 (Historical Film Footage: US Enters World War II), the world believed the United States to be the only hope of a Ge rman defeat. With the alarming news of the German’s recent discoveries, the Americans needed to quickly assert its dominance in the race to develop new wartime technology. Roosevelt authorized the research of nuclear weapons in January of 1942 (Atomic Timeline). Immediately, government officials placed plans for classified studies into motion at institutions across the country. As explained by the Independence Hall Association, â€Å"At first the research was based at only a few universities — ColumbiaShow MoreRelatedAmerica Chose To Drop Atomic Bombs On Japan, And This Affected1314 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica chose to drop atomic bombs on Japan, and this affected the war and the country in many ways. America was trying to stop the war and make Japan surrender. Atomic bombs, which are nuclear weapons, were dropped by the United States on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Atomic bombs terrify everyone today, but at that time, they were considered an indisp ensable step for an early end to the war with minimal human losses. Some people believed the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki wereRead MoreBuilding An Atomic Bomb Of The United States Entered Into World War II1507 Words   |  7 PagesProject Nuclear research all started when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the United States entered into World War II. When the United States realized that Germany attempted to build an atomic bomb, Americans began to concentrate on their research about creating an atomic bomb more heavily. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Manhattan Project, which included a group of top scientists, under General Leslie R. 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