J. Robert Oppenheimer: The Father Of The Atomic Bomb

The birth of the Atomic bombs was during WWII, when the nations around the world were fighting against each other, due to disagreements between one another. At the beginning of the war, America was at a stalemate because they did not want to get involved in the war. Even though they were not involved in the war they were helping friendly allies with food supplies and ammunition. And then there was island to the east of the Korean peninsula, also known as Japan, who suddenly decided to send a full blown aerial attack on american territory. In december 7, 1941 Japan launched a full blown attack on Pearl Harbor, an American naval base. This was the turning point of WWII because this spark America to enter into a war. What the enemy did not know, was that the U.S. had a secret under their hands, and that was the weapon that would bring an end the war. An According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. the first Atomic Bomb was build in Los Alamos New Mexico during WWII under the Manhattan Project ("Atomic Bomb." Encyclopaedia Britannica”). But after the bombs were drop the suffering of the Umany people, gave way for the questioning of the actions, some of these questions were : was it the right thing to do, what effect it had in the places that the bomb were dropped, how was America affected before, during, after and the bombs were dropped, what effect did the people had after experiencing the explosion, but the most important

Before the bombs were set off over Nagasaki and Hiroshima, a test bomb was detonated in the desert lands of New Mexico. The scientists involved in the research and fruition of this weapon were holding their breaths to see if it worked. They were not concerned with how many potential lives their creation could end, they were only interested in seeing if all of their hard work and two billion dollars in funding would pay off. Dr. J. R. Oppenheimer was credited with the idea of using the atomic bomb as a military weapon. If the bomb worked the intention was to use it to end lives, but as they watched in anticipation to see if the

“ The atom bomb was no ‘great decision.’ It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” This quote was said by Harry S. Truman the first President who used an atomic bomb. The program that was able to create this monstrous power was known as the Manhattan Project. Creating this weapon was their main priority. The United States was in the midst of World War 2. The atomic bomb is considered to be the main factor that ended that war. It was a race against the multiple enemies of the United States, to be the first to acquire this power and use it when necessary. The Manhattan Project was kept strictly confidential and, created the foundation of the future and more powerful nuclear weapons to come.

Even before the outbreak of War, the United States was concerned with a fascist regime in Europe researching in nuclear weapons. In retaliation, the United States began to fund an atomic weapon development program which became known as “The Manhattan Project” led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. Over the next several years, the Manhattan project started obtaining key materials such as Uranium-235 and Plutonium and testing prototypes until they reached a working model (Coroner).

The book Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon is a thrilling, fast-paced story that refines a great deal of history into interesting and understandable literature for practically any age reader. The author, Steve Sheinkin, writes to tell the story of the first atomic bomb, the people who made it possible, and those who challenged its progress. Any person who is interested in science, history, or would like an enjoyable, quick read could read Bomb and easily understand the basics behind the creation of the atomic bomb. Along with the science and mathematics of the atomic bomb, Sheinkin adds the suspense and intrigue from the viewpoints of espionage agents from the Soviet Union, Germany, Great Britain, and the

Even today, 71 years after the first use of the atomic bomb, people praise Oppenheimer’s many contributions to science but also question his ethics in the development of the atomic bomb. However, I believe J. Robert Oppenheimer was a visionary leader and ethical leader as his contributions advanced science and put an end to a great war.

The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The Manhattan project was the invention of the first two nuclear bombs, Fat man and little boy. These two bombs were dropped on Japanese islands to end World War II.

Though the scientists themselves were the ones to encourage the creation of the atom bomb, their plans and views differed immensely from those of the military. As World War II raged on, Germany was suspected of harnessing atomic energy and directing it into powering a weapon. Albert Einstein, agreeing with Leo Silzard, the man who first thought into the concept, urged President Franklin D. Roosevelt to look further into the study of atomic energy and the possibility of using it for a bomb. President Roosevelt, fearing the German’s advances in this study, quickly agreed and sent money to the University of Chicago to begin the study and research of atomic energy. (Roleff 62) (The Manhattan Project 1) Upon sending this money, the top-secret research program and building of the atomic bomb began. Later moving from Chicago to Los Alamos, New Mexico, this secret project was called the Manhattan Project. (1) Einstein later explained that his recommendation to the president was to only further the United State’s knowledge of this energy and to have an extra line of defense if the Germans were to ever launch a nuclear attack. (Roleff 62) When the possibility of using one of these weapons was

On the 2nd of August, 1939 Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard wrote President F.D. Roosevelt a letter alerting him to the possibility of the creation of atomic bombs (Einstein, 1939). This letter ultimately lead to the creation of the bomb. While Szilard continued to work on the bomb as part of the ‘Manhattan Project’, Einstein’s only involvement was the writing of these letters. Einstein was notoriously left wing and was considered a security risk by the military (American Museam of Natural History, n.d.). Despite only being involved in the most basic way he felt a large amount of regret, stating that “I made one great mistake in my life... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt.” (Pauling, 1954). Einstein spent the rest of his life condemning the bombs, proving that he did not think their use was justified. These views are mirrored in those of Leo

At the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II scientist started to develop new ways to to react to wars.Scientist like Julius Robert Oppenheimer with the help of Albert Einstein created the first atomic bomb called the “Little Boy” and the “FatMan”. Oppenheimer was the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico. He was incharge of gather the best minds to develop weapons of mass destruction. Oppenheimer along with 200 other physics developed weapons that would change the world forever.

In 1929 Oppenheimer returned to the United States to take up teaching positions at Berkeley and Cal Tech. During the 30’s, Oppenheimer began to become associated with a variety of heavily left-wing organizations affiliated with Communism. This was mainly due to the repression of several Jewish relatives in Nazi Germany. He married Katherine Harrison in 1940, who was a member of the Communist party and had two children. He also started to distance himself from his former leftist friends and groups. This was probably largely done to make himself more attractive to obtaining the post of head of development for atomic bombs.

Tomiko Morimoto once stated, "Everything started falling down; all the buildings started flying around all over the place.- I thought the Americans were going to burn us to death. And we kept running…." (“Hiroshima Survivor Recalls”). Robert Oppenheimer, also known as “father of the atomic bomb”, was liable as the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the time of the Manhattan Project. In the midst of World War II, the United States dropped nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the uncontrollable death rate of three percent of the world’s population in 1940, World War II came to a halt with the surrender of the Axis Powers in 1945. The Atomic Bomb succeeded in marking the end of World War II.

Robert J Oppenheimer, The head of Manhattan Project. This project included the creation of the atomic bomb. This bomb was due to splitting atoms. The first test of the bomb this test was called “project Y” and later called the Manhattan project. Latter after many more years of studying this bomb was dropped in several different places in China. This killed over 80,000 people and more than devastated china's population. The result of this research has changed many different things in our life like energy there is atomic energy. In conclusion Oppenheimer's effect had many pros and cons.

“I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” Robert Oppenheimer once said, “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” He said this after the first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945 in the Trinity test in New Mexico; Oppenheimer remarked later that it brought to mind words from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds," (J. Robert Oppenheimer Quotes). Robert Oppenheimer is called the Father of the Atomic Bomb. As the bomb went off at the Trinity test site the words, “It Worked!”

Klaus Fuchs' espionage case is one of the most intriguing in all of history, considering that it is the first major espionage case involving information concerning atomic bombs. One of the things that make this particular case distinguishable from others is the fact that Fuchs operated as a spy consequent to the Second World War. It is only safe to say that he played an active role in making the Cold War happen. Fuchs was a theoretical physicist and his ingenuity made it possible for him to get involved in significant operations such as the Manhattan Project and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Fuchs' Communist convictions influenced him to provide the Soviet Union with information that proved to be essential when considering the Cold War context.