Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman& The Atomic Bomb& The Atomic Bomb

Power point created by Robert Martinez

Primary Content Source: Speaking of History: Vol. II, by Laura Belmonte http://www.danzfamily.com/archives/blogphotos/06/393-tibbets-enola-gay.jpg

In 1939, physicist In 1939, physicist Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein warned President Franklin warned President Franklin

Roosevelt that the Nazis were Roosevelt that the Nazis were capable of producing a weapon that capable of producing a weapon that

harnessed atomic energy.harnessed atomic energy.

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In response, the Roosevelt In response, the Roosevelt administration funded small studies administration funded small studies

of the military potential of fission of the military potential of fission chain reactions.chain reactions.

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When the United States entered When the United States entered World War II, these efforts World War II, these efforts

expanded into the Manhattan expanded into the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program Project, a top-secret program employing more than 120,000 employing more than 120,000

people.people.

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American, British, and Canadian American, British, and Canadian scientists (the Soviets excluded), scientists (the Soviets excluded),

collaborated in laboratories in collaborated in laboratories in Chicago, Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Los Chicago, Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Los

Alamos, New Mexico.Alamos, New Mexico.

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Their challenges included collecting Their challenges included collecting enough fissionable material to enough fissionable material to

produce a nuclear explosion and produce a nuclear explosion and devising a weapon that could be devising a weapon that could be

dropped from an airplane.dropped from an airplane.

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On July 16, 1945, scientists at Los On July 16, 1945, scientists at Los Alamos exploded the first atomic Alamos exploded the first atomic

bomb (Trinity test.)bomb (Trinity test.)

At that time, the Allies had At that time, the Allies had defeated Nazi Germany but were defeated Nazi Germany but were locked in fierce combat against locked in fierce combat against

Imperial Japan.Imperial Japan.

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Earlier in the year, U.S. forces Earlier in the year, U.S. forces sustained heavy casualties in sustained heavy casualties in

battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

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Although the Japanese lost over Although the Japanese lost over 110,000 soldiers and 80,000 110,000 soldiers and 80,000

civilians in these clashes, they civilians in these clashes, they continued to fight.continued to fight.

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U.S. military planners predicted U.S. military planners predicted huge losses if American forces huge losses if American forces

invaded the Japanese home islands.invaded the Japanese home islands.

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News of the atomic bomb’s News of the atomic bomb’s successful test gave President successful test gave President Harry S. Truman an alternative.Harry S. Truman an alternative.

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On July 25, while he was attending On July 25, while he was attending the Potsdam Conference with Soviet the Potsdam Conference with Soviet and British prime ministers, Truman and British prime ministers, Truman

issued secret orders to use the issued secret orders to use the bomb if the Japanese failed to bomb if the Japanese failed to

surrender by August 3.surrender by August 3.

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The Potsdam Declaration warned The Potsdam Declaration warned Japan that it faced “prompt and Japan that it faced “prompt and utter destruction” if it did not utter destruction” if it did not

capitulate (end hostilities.) The capitulate (end hostilities.) The Japanese rejected the ultimatum.Japanese rejected the ultimatum.

Hideki Tojo

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In response, Truman ordered the In response, Truman ordered the military to use atomic weapons.military to use atomic weapons.

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On August 6, the B-29 On August 6, the B-29 Enola GayEnola Gay dropped a uranium bomb on dropped a uranium bomb on

HiroshimaHiroshima, instantly killing at least , instantly killing at least 70,000 people and leveling five 70,000 people and leveling five

square miles.square miles.

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On August 9, the United States On August 9, the United States dropped a plutonium bomb on dropped a plutonium bomb on NagasakiNagasaki, and 40,000 people , and 40,000 people

instantly perished.instantly perished.

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On August 14, Japan finally On August 14, Japan finally surrendered after receiving surrendered after receiving

assurances that assurances that Emperor HirohitoEmperor Hirohito could retain his throne.could retain his throne.

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The decision to use the bomb The decision to use the bomb remains hotly disputed. Critics offer remains hotly disputed. Critics offer

several motives, including the several motives, including the desire to save American lives, anti-desire to save American lives, anti-Japanese racism, and intimidation Japanese racism, and intimidation

of the Soviet Union.of the Soviet Union.

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Although we will never know the Although we will never know the answer, nuclear weapons answer, nuclear weapons

undoubtedly changed the course of undoubtedly changed the course of modern history. modern history.

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“ “Let there be no mistake about it. I Let there be no mistake about it. I regarded the bomb as a military regarded the bomb as a military weapon and never had any doubt weapon and never had any doubt that it should be used.”that it should be used.”

- President Harry S. Truman- President Harry S. Truman

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