WWII Choice Project by Avery Scott https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7 WWII Technology - The Manhattan Project en-us 2018-03-20 14:44:42 UTC 2025-09-27 14:40:18 UTC hello@padlet.com Project Proposal jenmcp10 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244059910 2018-03-20 14:55:05 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244059910 Supporters of the Atomic Bomb jenmcp10 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244553324 President Truman: He fought in WWI and claims that he likely would have been killed in combat had the war gone on much longer. 4 of his nephews were fighting WWII and some of his comrades' sons had already been killed. Desperate to protect his country's military and citizens, he organized a committee to decide about the atomic bomb, except that he appointed members to the committee who agreed with his views. Thus, the atomic bomb was approved.

The U.S. military was fighting a difficult war with many casualties and deaths. Many soldiers were desperate for any relief from their horrific circumstances.

Arguments for the Atomic Bomb:
- It would shorten the war and save American lives.
- Using the atomic bomb was decided on by a committee rather than a single person.
- The Japanese government was warned about the atomic bomb beforehand, but refused to completely surrender.
- The U.S. government spent lots of money on the atomic bomb, so they were required to use it.
- There was already a precedent for bombing cities in the war, as Germany was bombing Britain. Targeting civilians was not a new concept.]]> 2018-03-21 14:42:37 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244553324 How it came about? vasundharavaid02 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244553591 Early in 1939, scientists around the world has figured out that German Physicists had figured out the science behind splitting a uranium atom. This lead to a rise in fear among those who new the capabilities of destruction the bomb could cause if in it fell into the hands of Nazi Germany. 

After influential scientists like Albert Einstein (who escaped to the US from fascist regimes) brought up their concerns about the Axis powers' knowledge about making the atomic bomb. Even though President Roosevelt was hesitant about funding a research program to develop atomic warfare, he funded one anyways in early 1941. This project was such a big secret that it developed the code name "The Manhattan University" since one of the first research centers was based in the University of Colombia (and a couple other states) at first, but in 1942, Enrico Fermi made a breakthrough to produce the first controlled Nuclear Chain Controlled Reaction.
 After this breakthrough, more research facilities were opened, around 2 billion dollars was invested in research and facilities, and over 100,000 people were employed in these research facilities. Although secrecy was key to the project (so that the German and Japanese wouldn't find out), therefore only a small number of key scientists knew about the project, to the point that Stalin nor Vice President Truman.  ]]> 2018-03-21 14:42:47 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244553591 Scientist Reactions/Arguments Against averyonpointe https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244554967 Leo Szilard, the scientist who was the leader of this research and project openly campaigned against the use of the atomic bomb, going to so far as to create a petition to send to President Truman.  He only wanted to develop the weapons before Germany could.

Robert Oppenheimer felt extremely guilty for his part in the development of the bomb.  He felt that any deaths attributed to future uses of the atomic bomb would be on his hands.  He even approached the president about his concerns.

A large number of those who were aware of what they were making did stand behind its use in WWII as they felt it was the only way to bring about Japan's unconditional surrender without further American causalities.

A large number of people involved in the actual production of the bomb were unaware of what they were making.

Mark Oliphant, another physicist who worked on the bomb felt horrified that the U.S. had been responsible for such destruction.  He could not forgive himself and called himself a war criminal.

James Conant, along with President Truman, was confident in the decision to drop the bomb and lacked all remorse for the destruction it caused.


Arguments Against the Atomic Bomb:

-The bombs original purpose was defense alone
-The use of the bomb was illegal due to the League of Nations
-The use of the bomb was racially motivated as many who supported dropping the bomb on Japan stated they would not have allowed it to be used on Germany
-There were alternate options
1)Demonstrate the bombs power without harming anyone
2)Wait for Russia to join the war
3)Modify the unconditional surrender requirement and allow Japan to keep its emperor
4)Continue conventional bombing until Japan gave in
-The bomb was used to scare Russia, not hurt Japan
-Truman was unprepared and unsuited to making this decision
-The bomb itself is just inhumane]]> 2018-03-21 14:44:53 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244554967 Interactive ideas haleykrucher https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244555420 Have a debate (should WOMD be used?)
Class reads a skit out loud to reenact decision making.  
Tables can come up and right pros and cons on the white board.
- warmup/intercative element so gather the people :do you believe that is was neccessary for america to use the atomic bomb at that time]]> 2018-03-21 14:45:32 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244555420 Resources jenmcp10 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244557124

Ham, Paul. "As Hiroshima Smouldered, Our Atom Bomb Scientists Suffered Remorse". Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2016, 

Hamby, Alonzo L. "The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb". Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 5 Aug. 2010,

"Harry S Truman's Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb (U.S. National Park Service)". National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior,

"Manhattan Project." Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 9 Mar. 2018, 

"The Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bomb." Khan Academy, 

Hamby, Alonzo L. "The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb." Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 5 Aug. 2010

"Science Behind the Atom Bomb." Atomic Heritage Foundation, 5 June 2014,

"The Manhattan Project: Making the Atomic Bomb." Manhattan Project Chronology | The Manhattan Project: Making the Atomic Bomb | History of the Atomic Age, 

"The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb: Arguments in Support." History, 16 Mar. 2018, 

"John Douglas Cockcroft." Atomic Heritage Foundation, 27 May 1897, 

"Ernest Walton." Atomic Heritage Foundation, 6 Oct. 1903,
]]> 2018-03-21 14:48:09 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244557124 Haley (Committe research) haleykrucher https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244559311 The committee was originally created to study Uranium. 
It was then turned into a sub committee of the national defense research committee. 
The Uranium committee was turned into the S-1 executive committee (approved by Roosevelt) where they worked on created even bigger bombs via chemical reactions. In 1942 Roosevelt approved the productions of atomic weapons. They decided to keep the works of this committee a secret. In 1945 a similar bomb is tested and successful.  
They dropped little boy, an atomic bomb, in Hiroshima. 
They used an atomic bomb called fat boy in Nagasaki. When Japan surrendered conditionally in August 14, 1945. In 1947 all atomic energy activities are transferred from the Manhattan Engineer District to the newly created United States Atomic Energy Commission.
]]> 2018-03-21 14:51:10 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244559311 Scientist that led to the creation of the Atomic Bomb frenchcolombiana123 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244561228 leo szillard - developed the idea of the nuclear chain reaction in 1933.  Szilard helped build Chicago Pile-1, the first neutronic reactor to achieve a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.  In 1955, Szilard and Enrico Fermi jointly received the patent for a neutronic reactor. 
John Cockcroft- He was a member of the Tizard Mission to the United States in the autumn of 1940. Cockcroft designed the Cockcroft-Walton generator in 1932, which established the importance of accelerators in nuclear research. physicists John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton split the atom for the first time.
Albert Einstein- Einstein played no active part in the Manhattan project but Einstein influenced the beginning of the Manhattan Project.

]]> 2018-03-21 14:53:42 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244561228 Committees tying to the Manhattan Project frenchcolombiana123 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244577022  - the Manhattan Project was the Metallurgical Laboratory at the University of Chicago. 
- Enrico Fermi, Leo Szilard, Walter Zinn, George Weil, Arthur H. Compton, Herbert L. Andreson.
-Several sites in Iowa played an important role during and after the Manhattan Project, including the Ames Laboratory at the Iowa State University where uranium production methods were developed developed a new method for reducing and casting uranium metal, making it possible to cast large ingots of the rare metal at a significantly lower cost. 1/3 of their production went to
-  The Houdaille-Hershey Plant was a secret Manhattan Project site located in Decatur, Illinois. It was used to produce new barriers plating on the pipes to increase the productions of U-235
-Dayton Project- started during the war. It was a site where the perfected the reaction time of the polonium within the bomb with another element.
 
]]> 2018-03-21 15:17:33 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244577022 PRESENTATION SLIDES jenmcp10 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244585198 2018-03-21 15:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/244585198 Ms. Fitzpatrick Padlet jenmcp10 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/245035129 2018-03-22 14:54:27 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/245035129 Lesson Plan jenmcp10 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/245035680 2018-03-22 14:55:12 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/245035680 Handout averyonpointe https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/245508164 2018-03-23 15:07:17 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/245508164 Reflection vasundharavaid02 https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/251234628 Guys- 
I didn't know how to re upload the reflection after puttiong it on the doc. 
I have it typed here and can someone please copy-paste it to the lesson plan. 
Thanks
Vasundhara 
-During the interactive activity (debate), I think we should have been more active in the students’ debates and moderated them.  
-Also, for our hook activity we could have interacted more with the audience and give them some pre and post contextualization (to the Manhattan Project), so that they could better understand the ideas to develop their own opinions (on the board); since there wasn't much participation in the hook activity. ]]> 2018-04-12 16:18:12 UTC https://padlet.com/averyonpointe/xqo22qu490g7/wish/251234628