-
Early Nuclear Research
In 1798- German scientist Martin Klaproth discovered metallic element called Uranium
1911- British Physicist Ernest Rutherford formulated a motel of the atom called Uranium in which low mass electrons orbited a charged nucleus -
Germany Discovery of Fission
1930- Hungarian German physicist Leo Szilard conceived the possibility of self-sustaining nuclear reaction, or nuclear chain reaction in 1933
1934- Italian physicist Enrico Fermi split neutrons within uranium while conducting his own experiments -
The United States Takes Action
1939- Szilard began work to confirm their findings, collaborated with Walter Zinn and created the Hahn's experiment-July 1939- Szilard worked with physicist Albert Einstein to discuss German advances in nuclear development, together they drafted a letter to Franklin D Roosevelt on August 2nd, 1939
October 21, 1939- Roosevelt gathered Committee on Uranium and had their first meeting -
The Manhattan Project
1939- the Advisory Committee on Uranium moved slowly, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, they took action.
1941- British Scientist confirmed the building a Uranium based bomb- this gave the US the validation that they sought (resulted in US island hopping campaign/the army corps of engineers took over to produce atomic weaponry on the home front -
<--
August 14, 1942- army corps created the Manhattan engineer district. In September Colonel Leslie R. Grose was appointed head of the project, within 2 days he selected 3 primary sites for the manufacture of an atomic bomb
1942- Fermi and Szilard moved their efforts to build a reactor to Chicago
December 28, 1942- President Roosevelt received a formal approval -
Trinity Test
1945- Test took place in New Mexico, test proved far more successful than Oppenheimer anticipated -
Conclusion
Received positive news of Trinity Test, resulted in President Harry's Truman to demand Japan's unconditional surrender with their officials opting to ignore, this resulted in placing the US in a position of Global war, not held by any other nation following the war's end