The Atom Bomb: “The Manhattan Project”

What was Albert Einstein’s role in this?

Hitler’s nerds told him about their sci-fi plans to destroy the world, so he wrote a letter to FDR ratting them out

What was the Manhattan Project?

The American top secret program to create nuclear weapons

Manhattan Project years?

1939-1945

What happened to Harriet Truman after FDR died?

• Became vice president

• Discovered the Manhattan Project plans

Describe the events of the Firebombing of Japan

• Fire convection currents

• An attempt to get Japan to quit (it doesn’t work)

What was Truman’s dilemma?

1. Continue firebombing

2. A-bombs

3. Invade Japan from Okinawa

What were Truman’s priorities? (3)

1. Save American Lives

2. End the war

3. Limit Japanese deaths

When was Hiroshima?

August 6, 1945

Describe the events of Hiroshima.

• 170,000 killed (initial and radiation)

• Name: Little Boy

What does Truman tell Tojo after Hiroshima?

He lies to Tojo and told him that he had loads of bombs and could keep going

What was the vote for Japan to surrender after the first bomb?

6:0 no surrender

When was Nagasaki?

August 9, 1945

Describe the events of Nagasaki

• 140,000 killed (initial and radiation)

• Name: Fat Man

Why were there less deaths during Nagasaki than Hiroshima?

Because there were mountains that protected some of the people

How was the decision made for Japan to surrender?

• War council - 3:3

• Emperor has final cure when it’s a tie, and he believes Truman and he decides to surrender

What stopped the US from invading Okinawa?

On October 24, 1945, a tropical storm hits Okinawa right when the US was going to invade, destroying their ships (“Divine Wind”)

Describe the post war events/success.

• MacArthur uses military to help rebuild Japan and Germany → now we have allies

• Tojo is given death sentence, sneaks in a gun and shoots himself but misses his heart, revived then hung