1. Chicago’s Role in Ending the War
Chicago History

2. Bell Ringer O’Hare Expansion: 1940s vs. 2010s Homework
What were the reasons for building O’Hare Airport after WWII?
What do you think the reasons are for expanding O’Hare Airport in the coming years?
Are these reasons important enough to displace people from their homes if they live by the airport?
Homework
Mr. Verdaguer’s Week 3 Blog due tonight at 12AM.
Bring your City of Big Shoulders Book tomorrow
WWII Test on Tuesday Next Week (May 4)

3. The Manhattan Project What do you know?
The codename for the project conducted by the US government to build the 1st atomic bomb.
Why did the US want to develop the bomb?
Started in 1939, they were afraid Nazi Germany were developing these types of weapons.

4. The Chicago Connection: The Met Lab
The Metallurgical Lab
Part of the Manhattan Project
Located under Stagg Field in the University of Chicago campus.
Their main objective was to create a self sustaining chain reaction with uranium and plutonium.
This would be called the first “nuclear reactor”.
Today it now located in DuPage County IL under the name Argonne National Laboratory.

5. Enrico Fermi and Chicago Pile-1
Italian physicist and Nobel Prize winner
He headed the Met Lab in their efforts to create the nuclear reactor.
Chicago Pile-1
On December 2, 1942, Fermi and his group of scientists created the first artificial, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.
An important part of the Manhattan Project was now complete.

6. Shifting the Bomb’s Focus
Fermi’s efforts have paved the way for the successful creation of the first atom bomb.
The Manhattan Project was a nationwide collaboration.
So what was the target? Is it still Nazi Germany?
By 1945, Nazi Germany was close to surrendering to the Allies.
War in the Pacific was favoring the Allies, but the Japanese forces were unwilling to surrender.

7. Truman and his Decision
The Japanese had shown an unwillingness to surrender.
Battle of Okinawa
Over 100,000 Japanese and 50,000 US casualties.
Japanese civilians joined the war against the US.
So what would an invasion of Japan mean?
A staggering loss of life for both sides.
The US would have to deal with both Japanese soldiers and civilians.
Invasion was the only way to ensure unconditional surrender from Japan.
By early August 1945, President Truman had made his decision after giving the Japanese government an ultimatum in the Potsdam Conference.

8. The Little Boy and the Fat Man
On Aug , the US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Codename “Little Boy”
Three days later on Aug. 9, the US drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
Codename “Fat Man”

9. The Effects of the Bomb Short-Term Long-Term
Death toll of an estimated 120,000
Completely destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Japan surrenders to the Allies.
Long-Term
Environmental effects
The birth of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The creation of tensions between the US and the Soviet Union.
The Cold War begins.

10. RAFT: The Ethics of Using the Bomb
Role: A member of Truman’s Cabinet
Audience: President Truman
Format: A letter for or against…
Topic: …On using the atomic bomb to make Japan surrender.
Is using the atomic bomb the right thing to do? Why or why not?
List your reasons (You can bullet point!)
Are there any other alternatives to the bomb? If so, what?