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The birth of the project
Scientist Leo Szilard writes a letter to President FDR urging him to support and fund research in regards to nuclear fission as a defense towards Nazi Germany, and Albert Einstein signs the letter as well. -
WWII Begins
Great Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany, and World War II officially starts. -
Advisory Committee on Uranium established
After FDR read the letter from Szilard and other scientists, he created the Advisory Committee on Uranium, which was basically the beginning of the Manhattan Project. However, in June of 1940 this committee becomes a part of the National Defense Research Committee created by FDR. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese and within the next few days the US has declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy, officially joining WWII. -
FDR Officially authorizes the atomic project
FDR officially approves the production and further research of an atomic bomb. -
Fermi and Szilard achieve first nuclear fission reaction
By showing that a nuclear chain reaction (with uranium) can be sustainable, the possibility of using that sustained reaction in a reactor or bomb became a reality. -
Quebec Agreement signed
FDR and Winston Churchill sign the Quebec Agreement, which outlined the terms of how nuclear weapons would be developed -
Uranium-235 sent to Los Alamos Plant
200 grams of the rare uranium-235 isotope necessary in manufacturing the bomb are sent to the main assembly plant in Los Alamos, New Mexico -
Germany Surrenders
Nazi Germany surrenders to the Allied powers which marks the end of World War II in Europe -
Leo Szilard warns President Truman about atomic weapons
The scientist who has originally been one of the people to tell FDR about the potential of atomic weapons, comes out against the use of them in war. -
First atomic bomb test
The Trinity Test in Alamogordo, New Mexico becomes the first detonation of an atomic weapon -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The uranium bomb Little Boy is detonated over Hiroshima, Japan, killing tens of thousands instantly. -
Bombing Of Nagasaki
Just three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, the second atomic bomb named "Fat Man" is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan -
Manhattan Engineer District Abolished
