The Atomic Bomb

A. Developing the Bomb

B. Truman’s Decision

C. The Right Decision?

A. Developing the Bomb• In 1939 Albert Einstein informed FDR that the

Germans were working on a new type of bomb

Question A

Read and discuss question A with your partner

• Development of this new bomb became known as the Manhattan Project

• Over 100,000 Americans secretly worked to develop the bomb

• $2 billion spent to develop the bomb

• July 16, 1945: successful testing of the new weapon in Alamogordo, New Mexico

B. Truman’s Decision• FDR dies April 1945 & Harry Truman becomes

president

Question B

Read and discuss question B with your partner

• Truman decided to drop 2 atomic bombs on Japan– To save American lives – To end the war quickly

Hiroshima

• August 6, 1945 “Little Boy” dropped on Hiroshima

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Atomic_cloud_over_Hiroshima.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Victim_of_Atomic_Bomb_002.jpg

Nagasaki• August 9, 1945 “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Nagasakibomb.jpg

C. The Right Decision?

• Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945– VJ Day

• Radiation poisoning discovered after the bombing

• Over 225,000 people died as a result of the bombings by the end of 1945

Question C

Read and discuss question C with your partner