1. Warmup
Who was this man?
Albert Einstein

2. Agenda Warmup Drop the Atomic Bomb notes
Bomb Drop Site activity - laptops

3. Albert Einstein’s letter
In 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Roosevelt
Einstein described a powerful bomb built using uranium
Einstein also noted that Germany is researching this new technology
The US was neutral in 1939, but Roosevelt took interest in this new technology

4. Roosevelt’s Dilemma Einstein believed an “atomic bomb” was possible
Some scientists believe building an “atomic bomb” would be impossible
Ignore Einstein and don’t build bomb?
Pursue construction of “atomic bomb”?
Monitor Germany’s development of an “atomic bomb”?
Denounce “atomic bombs” as immoral and evil?
What should Roosevelt do?

5. Roosevelt’s Decision
Roosevelt vigorously pursued the construction of an “atomic bomb” because the US was in a race against Germany
Code-named the “Manhattan Project”
100,000 American scientists and researchers were tasked with building an “atomic bomb”
Research and development took place at 30 different sites
Many did not know what they were building

6. Truman and the Bomb President Roosevelt died in April 1945
Vice President Truman became President
Told of the “atomic bomb” after becoming president
When Germany is defeated, Japan refused to surrender to the US
Even though the US was bombing them daily
US invasion of Japan would likely cost tens of thousands of lives
Both American and Japanese

7. Truman’s Dilemma
Drop the atomic bomb without warning (killing hundreds of thousands) to force Japan’s surrender?
Invite Japanese delegation to US and show them the bomb’s capabilities and offer them a chance to surrender?
Give Japan warning about “ultimate weapon” and only use bomb if Japan refuses to surrender?
Reject using atomic weapons and invade Japan?

8. Truman’s Decision
Truman dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima without warning on August 6, 1945
Over 100,000 people were killed
Instantly vaporized
Force of impact
Radiation
Japan still did not surrender, so second bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945
Another 100,000 killed
Japan surrendered August 14, 1945

9. Who dropped the bomb?
The Enola Gay was a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber
The first aircraft to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima
It was piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets and had a 12-man crew
The bomb’s codename was “Little Boy” (9,000 pounds)

11. Barefoot Gen Barefoot Gen
Japanese manga series written by Keiji Nakazawa
Survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb
Became an animated movie in 1986

12. Right or Wrong?
Truman’s decision to drop atomic bomb on Japan is one of the most controversial in history
Do you think Truman made the right decision?

13. Video Clips Dropping the Bomb The Man Who Filmed Hiroshima
10 Things You Didn't Know About Hiroshima and Nagasaki

14. Activity Using the laptops, go to:1) 2)
Play around with it!