WHAT IS AN ATOMIC BOMB AND WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT TO WORLD WAR II?
What Is An Atomic Bomb?
An atomic bomb is "a general name given to any weapon in which the explosion results from the energy released by a reaction involving atomic nuclei, either by fission—of uranium or plutonium; or, fusion—of a heavier nucleus with two lighter hydrogen ones" (Website One). Since 1942, more than 100,000 scientists were working on the developing the bomb, called the Manhattan Project. "At the time, it was the largest collective scientific effort ever undertaken. It involved 37 installations across the US, 13 university laboratories and a host of prestigious participants..." (Website One). The Manhattan Project was one of the most secret wartime project in history, with scientists working in isolation in different parts of America until it was permanently moved to an isolated laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Scientists carried out the first trials of the new bomb on July 16, 1945 in the New Mexico desert.
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Significance To The War
By the summer of 1945, Japan was under nonstop attack by the United States, costing thousands of American lives and Japanese lives (civilians and soldiers). "From a political stand point it would have been unthinkable not to use the bomb. All the money and effort going into building a super powerful weapon that is left on the shelf as American troops die by the thousands trying to take Japan and end the war" (Website Two). In reality, though, President Truman saw no other way to win the war other than dropping the bombs on Japan. The Japanese weren't giving up their fight and the war was costing more and more lives. "The atomic bomb was seen as a potentially war winning weapon and in that hope it was used but no one alive then truly comprehended its horrifying power" (Website Two).
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After Effects
There is much controversy on whether or not the U.S. should have dropped the bomb on Japan. It was believed by many that it was the only way to win the war, but others believed being persistent and invading more would eventually draw the war to a close. Either way, many lives would be lost; whether it be Japanese civilians from the bomb or American and Japanese soldiers. After the bombing, more people moved back into the city. "The sudden population expansion, however, caused acute shortages of food and shelter" (Website Three). The results of the bomb was devastating. There was no food, water, or enough shelter for everyone. If the civilians didn't die from the bomb itself, they died from the radiation that came with it and not having what they needed. to survive. Scientists who arrived on scene described people as "just waiting to die". Many complain that the war would have been over soon enough without the bomb. "Joseph Grew, America’s last ambassador to Japan before the war started, also publicly alleged that the Truman administration knew about (and ignored) Japanese attempts to open surrender negotiations with the US using the USSR as a mediator" (Website Three).
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Sources and Other Information
History
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CenturyofFlight
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AtomicBombMuseum
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