The Manhattan Project, existing from 1942 to 1946, was the development of the first

active atomic bomb during World War Two. An astonished group of the world's top scientists
gathered together to gain an understanding on nuclear energy, and how to turn it into a weapon.
This American lead project was seen as a race between the superpowers during the war era,
where Germany and the Soviet Union were also in their own hunt for nuclear weaponry. The
United States became successful in this project, as they were the first to test the atomic bomb
dubbed "Trinity" in 1945. President Truman then decided to attack the Empire of Japan with two
atomic bombs to bring an end to the war. This groundbreaking development changed the world
forever, as the people of Earth feared the power of nuclear weapons to this day. The Manhattan
Project was a revolutionary research and development project that drastically changed the world
immediately, and created enormous changes that reflect on the current state of civilization.
The extraordinary men behind the Manhattan Project conceived the theory of creating
large amounts of catastrophic energy sparked the beginning of the very expensive, yet rewarding
project. Before the devastating Second World War began, Nazi Germany was one step ahead of
achieving nuclear arms. German Scientists Otto Han and Fritz Strassman were the first to
discover and achieve nuclear fission in Uranium.1 Fission is the creation of energy through the
use of atomic chain reaction, and is the stepping-stone for harnessing nuclear power. One of the
most well known scientists in history, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt to
inform him of the possibilities and dangers behind Germanys nuclear research, in which
Roosevelt was convinced that the United States needed to progress past Germany in nuclear
research. Roosevelt won approval of starting a development project to build a weapon of mass
destruction in 1942, and appointed Lieutenant General Leslie R. Groves as the director of what
1 Timeline of Events: 1938-1950, U.S Department of Energy, http://energy.gov/management/officemanagement/operational-management/history/doe-history-timeline/timeline-events, Web Access: 12/5/15.

was dubbed The Manhattan Project. Three different top secretive sites were selected for the
project, which included Oak Ridge (Tennessee), Hanford (Washington), and Los Alamos (New
Mexico).2 These three sites were assigned different responsibilities, and Los Alamos was selected
for the design and manufacturing of the atomic bomb. Among the ingenious scientists who were
selected to bring about their expertise at the Los Alamos plant included J. Robert Oppenheimer,
and Enrico Fermi. At its peak, the Los Alamos plant was home to six Nobel Peace Prize winners
working on the project.3 With all the brains, brawn, and money pouring into these different
project sites, the United States was on its way to truly becoming a superpower.
After three years of intense determination by the people behind the Manhattan Project, the day
finally came that humans possessed in their hands the most lethal weapon in history. It seemed as
if groundbreaking achievements were made at the Los Alamos every single day. However,
progress needed to be achieved every day to compete with rival countries in their development of
the atomic bomb. The total amount of expenses tallied up to two billion dollars between material,
salary, and transportation necessary for the creation of the atomic bomb.4 This costly project was
finally put to test on July 16th, 1945 at a desolate desert in Almorogado, New Mexico. This was
the Trinity Test, which was the first successful atomic bomb explosion in history, the beginning
of the nuclear age, and what had seemed like a promising final touch to the Manhattan Project.
This day was known as The day the sun rose twice because of the blinding flash this explosion
created, and the realization of the power this weapon held. With great power such as this, came
great responsibility to those who held this weapon of mass destruction. The decision rested in

2 Manhattan Project, Nuclear Files, http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/precold-war/manhattan-project/, Web Access: 12/5/15.

3 The Secret of Los Alamos: The Manhattan Project, Southwest Compass,
http://southwestcompass.com/2012/07/the-secret-of-los-alamos/, Web Access: 12/6/15.
4 The Manhattan Project, CTBTO Preparatory Commission, http://www.ctbto.org/nuclear-testing/history-ofnuclear-testing/manhattan-project/, Web Access: 12/7/15.

one nations hand of using the atomic bomb for the destruction of a country, and an arrival of
peace.
The final execution step of the Manhattan Project was using the weapon of mass destruction to
bring an end to the war. President Truman asked General George MacArthur what the two
biggest war-manufacturing cities in Japan were, and had responded with, Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. The goal was to bring an end to Japans power to make war. A missile-style atomic
bomb called The Little Boy was to be dropped into the city of Hiroshima if the Empire did not
heed to the United States warning. These multiple warnings to the Empire of Japan encouraged
surrender; otherwise they will be unleashed upon with peril weaponry. On August 6th, 1945, the
United States caused the utmost devastation to Hiroshima, and had shown the Empire and the
World the power the United States held. The estimated amount of lives lost in the first ever
nuclear attack was 150,000 people from immediate explosion, and long term health effects those
who were exposed to the nuclear radiation.5 If the Japanese were still to be resilient in not
surrendering, President Truman warned the leaders to Expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like
of which has never been seen on this earth.6 The members of the Manhattan Project created a
bomb that was ten times more catastrophic than The Little Boy, and gave it a respectful name
The Fat Man. This bomb was equivalent to the explosion force of 21,000 tons of TNT.7 The
Fat Man was truly an extraordinary piece of engineering from the men behind the Manhattan
Project, and just came to show how successful this project really was. On August 9th, 1945 the
United States held true to their word by causing more destruction if Japan held no response of
peace. The Fat Man was dropped onto the city of Nagasaki, and caused destruction to this
5 Hiroshima and Nagasaki Death Toll, Children of the Atomic Bomb,
http://www.aasc.ucla.edu/cab/200708230009.html, Web Access: 12/7/15.
6 Harry S. Truman Library, "Army press notes," box 4, Papers of Eben A. Ayers.
7 Little Boy and Fat Man, Atomic Heritage Foundation, http://www.atomicheritage.org/history/little-boy-and-fatman, Web Access: 12/7/15.

industrial city. Near 75,000 people were killed as a result of this devastation which finally
provoked Japan to bring an end to their tyranny.8 General Leslie Groves estimated that the men
of the Manhattan Project would have another atomic bomb ready for deployment by August 17th
of that year, and would keep producing these weapons until the United States enemies ceased to
fight.9 Japan realized that United States held the power to destroy their entire country, and signed
a formal surrender on September 2nd, 1945, now known as V-J Day. Though the works of the
atomic bomb killed countless lives, it had saved countless Americans and all those who were
threatened by the Empire of Japans ruthless fight-style. The dropping of these bombs was
viewed to be an end of all wars because of the power that one country holds. No country would
dare to instigate conflict with a nation that possessed such threat. This held true until other
nations developed their own weapons of mass destruction.
The development of the nuclear weaponry starting from the Manhattan project changed the
world as a control and limitation of creating nuclear weapons was put in place. The United States
proposed to place control of all nuclear research and arms development to the United Nations.
Most agreed on the plan, yet the Soviet Union denied giving up such power so they can create
their own nuclear weapons inventory. While the Soviet Union was in their own nuclear arms
development, President Truman signed The Atomic Energy Act of 1946 to turn the Manhattan
Projects assets over to the Atomic Energy Commission, bringing an end to the actual Manhattan
Project development.10 Since the Soviet Union posed as a threat after being an ally during World
War Two, the United States poured more and more money into the Atomic Energy Commission
to expand and revolutionize the production of nuclear arms. What is now known as The Arms
8 Hiroshima and Nagasaki Death Toll, Children of the Atomic Bomb,
http://www.aasc.ucla.edu/cab/200708230009.html, Web Access: 12/7/15.
9 Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki, This Day in History, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomicbomb-dropped-on-nagasaki, Web Access: 12/7/15.
10 Timeline of Events: 1938-1950, U.S Department of Energy, http://energy.gov/management/officemanagement/operational-management/history/doe-history-timeline/timeline-events, Web Access: 12/7/15.

Race between the United States and the Soviet Union had just begun, and the world feared of
another war that would result in massive nuclear strikes. This long-term threat that had originated
in the labs of the Manhattan Project had changed the world forever.
The outcome of World War Two and the standing of civilization today were direct results from
the brilliant men behind the first successful atomic bomb. Most of these men were recognized for
their work, regardless of how destructive their creation was. Not only did this project change the
wage of war, but gave the world a new form of harnessing and creating energy. Nuclear power
plants sprouted across America and the world to create effective commercial energy that powers
our world to this day. The Manhattan Project was a revolutionary research and development
project that drastically changed the world immediately, and created enormous changes that
reflect the long-term status of society, politics, and technology. World War Two may have
brought more catastrophes to the world without the decision of using the bomb. More direct
combat may have only brought more unnecessary devastation to the United States and its Allies.
The outcome of this project is accurately described in the words of J. Robert Oppenheimer, I am
become death, the destroyer of worlds.11

11 J. Robert Oppenheimer, Race for the Superbomb, PBS,

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/peopleevents/pandeAMEX65.html, Web Access: 12/7/15.