Manhattan Project Research Paper

CHC 2D1 LEAFS- REPORT

In 1942 the United States began a top-secret project that launched the creation of the first atomic bomb. Many events and brave scientists were part of the top-secret project known as the Manhattan Project. The production of the Manhattan project was a long process but the project provided a large importance to history and development of the world.

The Manhattan Project did not happen overnight, the idea and support of many courageous scientists and several events lead up to the production of the Manhattan Project. In 1942 the Germans became a threat because of the perception that they could split the atom, creating a nuclear chain reaction. As a result Germany was ahead of the United States in producing the bomb

In November 1940 the United States Government gave forty thousand dollars to Fermi to create a self-sustaining chain reaction. June 1942, Roosevelt created the Manhattan Engineer District under the US Army Corps of Engineers. Shortly after that the program received its name the “Manhattan Project” as the headquarters was in New York City and the mission was top-secret (Sullivan 19-24). The funding that Fermi received from the United States was used successfully. On December 2, 1942, at the University of Chicago’s Stagg Field, Fermi, George Weil, and Leona Woods at 3:53 pm created the first nuclear chain reaction. As this group of scientists accomplished their goal, their success at this experiment brought the key to unleashing the power of the atom. Leading the United States a step closer with General Colonel Leslie Richard Groves appointed the director of the Manhattan Project and J. Robert Oppenheimer appointed the scientific director to help Groves with the science behind the Project. The program became top priority for the United States. In order for the program to move it was divided among three laboratories. Project X was in Tennessee required to build the electromagnetic and gaseous diffusion plant. In order to construct this, enough power to light a city would be demanded to make the electromagnetic process alone. Project W in Hanford, Washington, which was the plutonium

The effect(what does this mean) of where the bombs go and the overall effort of the Manhattan Project changed the outcome of the war and the future of atomic weapons. The bomb known as Little Boy had a U-235 core and its explosive fuel was created at Oak Ridge laboratories and was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945(Sullivan 105) (history.com). The dropping of Little Boy impacted the lives of thousands in an instant. The bomb caused destruction and death over five square miles. Ninety percent of the city was demolished and fires burned for days. Although Japan faced massive destruction they still failed to surrender. The bomb, Little Boy was dropped about one thousand nine hundred feet from the Enola Gay bomber plane. Japan woud not surrender, so three days later the bomb known as Fat Boy was dropped over Nagasaki. (history.com). The dropping of Big Boy killed around forty thousand people. This was a very big upset. The two bombs killed more than one hundred thousand people and destroyed two Japanese cities, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. “I wish to save the people at the risk of my own life. I am ready to do anything. If it is for the good of the people, I am willing to make a broadcast.” –The emperor (Sullivan 127). The Emperor Hirohito was no longer willing to let the Americans hurt the people of Japan. On August 15, 1945, the Emperor announced on the radio the government’s surrender to the Allied powers. This marked the