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German Physicists with New Technology
Word spread that German physicists discovered how to split a uranium atom, furthering their knowledge of nuclear technology. People began to fear that the Nazis would use this knowledge to create a nuclear bomb and cause mass destruction. (info: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp)
(picture: http://infactcollaborative.com/technology/atomic-bomb-facts.html) -
Einstein Writes a Letter to the President
Albert Einstein thought it was crucial for America to develop nuclear technology as well to be prepared for an attack. He wrote a letter to President Roosevelt asking to create a nuclear technology program in the United States. Roosevelt later agreed and used the codenmane, the Manhattan Project when referring to it. (info: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp)
(picture: http://nnsa.energy.gov/aboutus/ourhistory/timeline/albert-einstein-alerts-president-roosevelt-german-atomic-energy-program) -
First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction
The project took place mainly at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and the University of California at Berkeley. Physicist Enrico Fermi and other physicists created the first nuclear chain reaction under Stagg field. (info: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp)
(picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi) -
Manhattan Project Becomes More Popular
After the successful chain reaction at the University of Chicago, the project became more popular. More funds were being spent on the project and plants were being built in Tennessee, Washington, and New Mexico. A main contributer of the New Mexico plant was a physicist named Robert Oppenheimer. At this point, about 120,000 Americans were working on the Manhattan Project. (info: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp)
(picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Robert_Oppenheimer) -
First Test of the Atomic Bomb
By this time, the scientists were finally ready to test the first atomic bomb. The testing took place at Trinity State. The bomb was set off in the morning on a 100-foot tower. It was able to be seen for 200 miles. It destroyed peoples' homes from up to 100 miles away. When it came back down to earth, a half-mile wide crater was created. The project was very successful. The United States was now prepared to enter a nuclear war if they needed to. (info: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp)
