Manhattan Project: 1939
In 1939, a few well known physicists drafted the Einstein–Szilárd letter to President Roosevelt, warning him of the potential for the creation of a new bomb of previously unheard power and destructive capacity. It was their fear that Germany was looking to develop this weapon, due to the fact that they had begun to hoard Uranium. Spurred by the Einstein-Szilard letter, which was drafted by Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, and signed by Albert Einstein, the USA came to the conclusion that it was necessary to advance research on nuclear chain reactions. In 1942, a team of scientists were asked to partake in the Manhattan Project, including Robert Oppenheimer, David Bohm, and Niels Bohr. The entire operation was led by Major Leslie Groves. Soon after, the United States purchased a large section of land in Los Alamos, New Mexico, which would, in a few years time, become the most widely recognizable of multiple research sites. It took about a year and 7 million dollars, but the site was ready on November 30th, 1943. The intention was to develop, in as short a time period as possible, a nuclear bomb. Finally, in 1945, after years of trial and error, the first three bombs were successfully tested. By the time the USA was prepared to apply the newly developed technology, Germany was already out of the war, and dozens of scientists rallied together against the usage of the bomb, even signing a petition. Despite this, the new President, Harry Truman decided to bomb Japan. On August 6th, 1945, the first bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. As Japan did not immediately surrender, another was dropped on the August 9th on Nagasaki. The results were devastating. Many of the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were killed instantly, but the radiation released from the bombs continues to have an effect on survivors and the environment today. In total, at least 200,000 human lives are thought to have been taken as a result of the bombings, but the consequences of this event cannot be summarized by a number, as they are far reaching and still not entirely understood.