“Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” These famous words by the famous American theoretical physicist and inventor of the atomic bomb, Robert J. Oppenheimer, marked a profound turning point in history. With this statement, Oppenheimer encapsulated the monumental significance of the atomic bomb’s creation, an invention that forever altered the course of human civilization. With its creation, the world was confronted with the terrifying reality of destruction on a global scale at the press of a button. First, World War II intensified scientific discoveries and technological advancements in various countries. The escalating global conflict, tension, and the need for an end to the war caused the quick development of new military technology. One of these new technologies and advancements was the Manhattan Project, a top-secret research and development project launched by the United States in 1942 that aimed to create the first atomic weapons before the Nazis. Several technological advancements led to the creation of the atomic bomb, such as the discovery of nuclear fission, which is the splitting of an atom’s nucleus that creates a tremendous amount of energy. …show more content…
On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 70,000 people. Three days later, on August 9th, the United States dropped another bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. The decision to drop the bombs was made by President Harry S. Truman, in an effort to bring a swift end to the war with Japan. The bombings led to the almost immediate surrender of Japan on August 15th, 1945, which effectively ended World War