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The Invention of the Atomic Bomb
The discovery of nuclear fission made by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassman, allowed the first atomic bomb to be built.
It was first built in a laboratory in Berlin, Germany. Nazi Germany never got around to using it, however. -
The Szilárd Letter
Einstein, working as a professor of Physics at the University of Berlin, found out about the discover of nuclear fission, and sent a letter to the President of the United States, warning him of the dangers. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack at the Pearl Harbor Naval base in Hawaii. -
US Declares War
With the famous "Day of Infamy" speech to Congress, President Roosevelt declares war against Japan. -
Germany Surrenders (Unconditionally)
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Japan Continues to Fight
Even though Germany officially surrendered, and Italy switched sides, Japan continued to fight the US. -
First Successful Atomic Bomb Test
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Hiroshima is Bombed
On August 6th, 1945, the bomber Enola Gay dropped the first A-bomb on Hiroshima. 80,000 people were instantly killed. More would die in the fallout. -
Japan Refuses to Surrender
President Truman gave Japan an opportunity to surrender after the bombing, but the Japanese Government refused. -
Nagasaki is Bombed
The bomber Boxcar drops Fat Man on Nagasaki, killing 40,000. The giant mushroom cloud blocked the sun from the city, turning day to night. -
The Soviet Union Declares War on Japan
At this point is it Japan against the world. -
Black Rain
About 30-40 minutes after each bomb was dropped, a black rain, or fallout, rained down on the cities. -
Radiation Poisining
After the bombs fell, people began to feel the effects of radiation. People had symptoms such as internal bleeding, loss of hair, among other symptoms. Some even died in the weeks, months, and years after the bomb. -
Japan's Official Surrender
Japan surrenders unconditionally, signing the documents onboard the USS Missouri. The emperor of Japan, however, was absent from the meeting. -
Period: to
Allied Occupation of Japan
Led by General MacArthur, the US occupies Japan. They did things like censor anything about WW2 or the bomb in media and told the Japanese that the emperor is not a god, but just a man. -
Rebuilding
Three years after the bombs, Japanese dislocated by it come back and rebuild. The radiation is gone; plants even start to grow. But it will be a long road to prosperity. -
Final Death Toll
In addition to the 80,000 people killed instantly by Little Boy, another 60,000 die from radiation poisoning by 1950. -
Nagasaki Death Toll
The death toll in Nagasaki was about half of Hiroshima. This is due to the fact that a mountain range splits the city, which helped blocked some of the blast from the bomb. -
Period: to
50th Anniversary of the Bombings
This date marks the 50th anniversary of the bombings. Japan is thrust on the world stage as it remembers what happened there half a century ago. -
The Last Known Detonation of an Atomic Bomb
Scientists and physicists are still developing technology for weapons and bombs, but hopefully it will not be needed. -
Sources/Works Cited
The link is a document that entails all our sources. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MRN7lNwBxaGndY5o9NUuKSLvCib82AwphGqf6kmCNEg/edit?usp=sharing
