CONFIDENTIAL

Ruben Haverkate

Silvia van der Kolk

English Speaking World

Class 1B

Powell, James

The Manhattan project was a research and development project from 1939 to 1946, led by the United States. The project was the first experiment with nuclear fissure on American soil. The inducement of this covert operation was the anxiety for Nazi Germany creating an atomic bomb. Therefore, the goal of this project was to produce the first atomic bomb in the world. To achieve this goal, the United States employed over 130.000 people, including some of the world’s most known scientist such as Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein. The total allocation of this project was $2.4 billion, which is the equivalent of 31.11 billion USD 2013. On 16 July 1945, the Manhattan Projects´ main goal was achieved by detonating the first nuclear implosion bomb at the Trinity Test site. In the post-war years, the Manhattan Project continued weapon testing, developing new weapons, supporting medical research and laid the foundations for the nuclear navy. In January the Manhattan Project and formatted the United States Atomic Energy Commission.

Even though the Manhattan Project has been lifted over six decades ago, it’s achievements are still being exploited in modern day America. For instance, scientists have discovered how to harness the power of nuclear energy, creating far more efficient power plants. Also, nuclear fissure gave a new impulse in medical technology. Without the atomic bomb, there is a high probability that the CAT scan and chemotherapy would never have been invented. Ultimately, what would have happened to the world if it was not the Manhattan Project that invented the first atomic bomb, but Nazi Germany? We can only conjecture of how modern society would have looked like.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee Chosen by General Leslie R. Groves as site for facilities to produce nuclear materials.

Key Facts

World’s first nuclear reactor, capable of producing significant amounts of plutonium.

Produced enriched uranium for Hiroshima weapon, utilizing the electromagnetic method.

Was the largest building in the world at the time. First demonstration of viability of gaseous diffusion for uranium enrichment.

Clinton Laboratories, X-IO site, including the Graphite Reactor, under construction in October 1943.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is a significant place because it was the first pilot plant which proved the feasibility of scaling up from laboratory experiments. In the Oak Ridge Plants, scientists proved the possibility of full-scale production of enriched uranium and plutonium. With this prove, the United States discovered how to ‘fuel’ their nuclear devices and became capable of producing enough plutonium and enriched uranium for the production of a nuclear bomb.

Chicago, IllinoisChosen by General Leslie R. Groves as site for full-scale plutonium production and separation facilities.

Key Facts

Production of the first self-sustaining nuclear reaction.

Isolation of the first weighable amounts of plutonium.

Argonne’s Experimental Breeder Reactor lit this string of four bulbs with the world’s first usable amount of electricity from nuclear power. The date was December 20, 1951.

Chicago, Illinois, is a significant place because the first nuclear self-sustaining reaction occurred at the University of Chicago. This chain reaction is essential for the detonation of a nuclear device, for it releases several million times more energy per reaction than any chemical reaction. Also, the reactor in Chicago was the first in the world to light a town with electricity.

Los Alamos, New Mexico Chosen by General Leslie R. Groves as site for separate scientific laboratory to design an atomic bomb.

Key Facts

The Trinity Test, done near Los Alamos, began the atomic age and demonstrated the viability of an implosion weapon.

The Trinity Test and later weapons were assembled at Los Alamos.

First tests with uranium gun type Hiroshima weapon tested at Gun Site in Los Alamos.

The Laboratory was established in 1943 as site Y of the Manhattan Project for a single purpose: to design and build an atomic bomb.

Los Alamos, New Mexico, is a significant place because scientists weaponized the atom for the first time in history. The primary responsibility of the Laboratory is assuring the safety and reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent. It took engineers and scientists only twenty months to build the first atomic bomb, which was also successfully tested in Los Alamos. Even though the atomic bomb was built in Los Alamos, the components and elements of the bomb were created in several different states of the United States.

Albert Einstein Inventor of the equation E=MC2, necessary for a nuclear chain-reaction.

Key Facts

Einstein fled to the United States in 1932, fearing the persecution by the Nazi regime.

Wrote a letter to Franklin Roosevelt urging him to develop a nuclear device.

“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” – Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein writes President Franklin D. Roosevelt, alerting the President to the importance of research on nuclear chain reactions.

Albert Einstein is a significant figure because he authored a letter that was signed by more than a dozen prominent theoreticians of the time warning of the possibility of nuclear weapons and noting that the Germans were actively pursuing them. Also, Einstein created the equation E=MC2, which stated the possibility to create large amount of energy with an atom chain-reaction.

Franklin D. Roosevelt President of the United States of America during the Manhattan Project.

Key Facts

Received a letter from Albert Einstein, alerting the President to the importance of research on nuclear chain reactions and the possibility that research might lead to developing powerful bombs.

President Roosevelt instructed the Army to take responsibility for construction of atomic weapons complex.

President Roosevelt approves production of the atomic bomb following receipt of a National Academy of Sciences report.

“More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Roosevelt is a significant figure because he was the president who approved the making of the atomic bomb following receipt of a National Academy of Sciences report determining that a bomb is feasible. Also, Roosevelt established the Manhattan project in 1942.

Leslie R. Groves Director of the Manhattan Project.

Key Facts

Was a United States Army Corps of Engineers officer who had the had a reputation as ‘a doer, a driver, and a stickler for duty’.

President Roosevelt instructed the Army to take responsibility for construction of atomic weapons complex.

Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves, Jr. (17 August 1896 – 13 July 1970)

“We could give this country the biggest stick in the playground, and I intend to do that. ” – Leslie R. Groves jr.

Leslie R. Groves is a significant figure because he was involved in most aspects of the atomic bomb’s development. He directed the Manhattan Project from his office in Washington D.C.. He was in charge of successfully completing the making of the first nuclear device. His decision making skills contributed to the progress of the Manhattan Project.

Trinity Test

Key facts

The new test site, named the ‘White Sands Proving Ground’, this site was localized in the Jornada del Muerto desert (Socorro, New Mexico).

The origin of the code name ‘Trinity’ is unknown.

The completed device was raised to the top of a 100-foot steel tower on July 14. During this process workers piled up mattresses beneath the gadget to cushion a possible fall.

The nuclear blast created a flash of light brighter than a dozen suns. The light was seen over the entire state of New Mexico and in parts of Arizona, Texas, and Mexico.

The Trinity Test is a significant event because it was the first detonation of a nuclear device. It took place on July 16, 1945. This event also drags out the name ‘Trinity’ as a code name. The Trinity test was implemented by the United States Army as a sequel to the Manhattan Project. This nuclear device also bears the name ‘The Gadget’’, since the device was not yet a deployable weapon and words like ‘bomb’ were not used because of anxiety of espionage.

Albert Einstein’s letter to president Roosevelt.

Key facts

Einstein told he regrets informing President Roosevelt in an interview. "had I known that the Germans would not succeed in developing an atomic bomb, I would have done nothing."

the U.S. Army Intelligence office denied Einstein the security clearance needed to work on the Manhattan Project, because Einstein was judged to be a potential security risk.

In 1938, three chemists in Berlin discovered how tremendously high the energy output was when splitting the uranium atom. This energy could be used to create a bomb. However, many technical problems had to be overcome, before such a device could be built.

When Einstein found out that the Germans started solving those technical problems, he wrote President Franklin Roosevelt a letter, alerting Roosevelt that Nazi Germany was working on an atomic bomb. This letter was the first step towards the ‘Manhattan Project’ and is therefore significant.

We have chosen the ‘Manhattan Project’ because of its relevance to modern day America. The technical accomplishments achieved half a century ago can still be noticed nowadays. This made working on this project enjoyable and an informative process. While we covered most general parts of the ‘Manhattan Project’, it was impossible to include all events, important people and places (in addition, there are still many files confidential and therefore inaccessible to the masses). Nevertheless, we hope you have learned something about the ‘Manhattan Project’.

References

First Atom Bomb Trinity Test Manhattan Project July 1945 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW2clYJmvhE). [Film].Association, I. H. (sd). The Manhattan Project. Opgehaald van www.ushistory.org: http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.aspAuthors, M. (2014, January 5). Manhattan Project. Opgehaald van en.wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project#Manhattan_DistrictEisenhower, D. (1953, December 8). Atoms for Peace. Opgehaald van voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu: http://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/eisenhower-atoms-for-peace-speech-text/History, A. M. (sd). The Manhattan Project. Opgehaald van http://www.amnh.org/: http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/einstein/peace-and-war/the-manhattan-projectKrause, C. (1992). The First Fifty Years. Oak Ridge.Laboratory, A. N. (2010, October). Argonne’s rich scientific heritage. Opgehaald van nuclear-discussion.uchicago.edu: http://nuclear-discussion.uchicago.edu/files/Argonne_history.pdfLaboratory, L. A. (2012, January 11). Our History. Opgehaald van www.lanl.gov: http://www.lanl.gov/about/history-innovation/index.phpLaboratory, O. R. (2013, November 22). Graphite Reactor. Opgehaald van www.ornl.gov: http://www.ornl.gov/ornl/news/communications/graphite-reactorNational Nuclear Security Administration. (2014, January 5). NNSA Timeline. Opgehaald van NNSA.energy.gov: http://nnsa.energy.gov/aboutus/ourhistory/timelineOffice of Scientific and Technical Information. (2013, December 12). The Manhattan Project. Opgehaald van www.osti.gov: http://www.osti.gov/accomplishments/manhattan.htmlOffice of Scientific and Technical Information. (2013, January 23). The Manhattan Project -- Its Background. Opgehaald van www.osti.gov: http://www.osti.gov/accomplishments/manhattan_story.htmlU.S. Department of Energy, & Einstein, A. (2013, September 25). Einstein's Letter. Opgehaald van www.ne.anl.gov: http://www.ne.anl.gov/About/legacy/e-letter.shtmlU.S. Department of Energy, & National Atomic Museum. (sd). Trinity Site. Opgehaald van Trinity Atomic Website: http://www.cddc.vt.edu/host/atomic/trinity/trinity1.html