Nuclear Weapons And Its Impact On The World

Then he went to teach at Berkley University.4 Another main person in the research project was Enrico Fermi. Fermi was a graduate of the University of Pisa, where he received his Ph.D. Fermi then went to the University of Rome teaching chemistry and biology. Fermi played a major role in the development of the bomb by creating a sustained nuclear fission chain reaction, which was critical to making the atomic bomb.4 Richard Feyman was another scientist which worked on the atomic bomb. Feyman graduated from Princeton where he excelled in physics and other scientific studies. Feyman's big duty on the Manhattan Project was to break big problems into smaller easier to do problems.4 The Manhattan Project, also had to have facilities for the research and testing of the atomic bomb. Some of the facilities built by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers included: power stations, factories, steel works, hospitals, laboratories, and housing for everybody that worked on the project.. Other facilities that were built for the construction of the bomb were plants to make the radioactive material needed to construct the bomb. Oak Ridge, Tennessee was used to make uranium which was used as an explosive to react with plutonium. The plutonium itself was made in Hanford, Washington.5 To make this explosion possible, a piece of uranium was fired at another piece of uranium to make the critical mass that was needed for an explosion. Critical mass is the exact amount of

During World War II, the Americans fought a two-front war, with pressure from both Japan and Germany. The United States, aware that Germany was threatening to build an atomic weapon, created a secret project to develop the technology first. Under the codename, the Manhattan Project, leading scientists carried out top secret research on fission and the technology needed to create the first atomic bomb. The immediate impact of the Manhattan Project was the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan, ending the war in the Pacific. However, more important influences of this project can be seen following the detonation of the first bombs. The emergence of the United States as a world superpower following World War II, the tensions derived from the

The beginnings of the Nuclear Age started when Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin Roosevelt warning him of a dangerous weapon the Nazis had begun researching, known as the atomic bomb. (1) Though, when President Roosevelt first read this letter, he was too preoccupied with events in Europe to be bothered with such ideas. He at the time did not take the creation of such weapon to seriously, nor did he believe America had the resources for such a task. (2) Finally, on October 19, 1939 President Roosevelt wrote back to Einstein stating that the United States had begun to research the power of uranium. (2) With the help of the British, whom reluctantly gave the United States leadership on this project, in June of 1942 the Manhattan Project had begun, though most of the world had no idea that this was even happening, not even Vice President Truman. (2)

Two main theorists of international relations, Kenneth Waltz and Scott Sagan have been debating on the issue of nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. In their book The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: An Enduring Debate, they both discuss their various theories, assumptions and beliefs on nuclear proliferation and nuclear weapons. To examine why states would want to attain/develop a nuclear weapon and if increasing nuclear states is a good or bad thing. In my paper, I will discuss both of their theories and use a case study to illustrate which theory I agree with and then come up with possible solutions of preventing a nuclear war from occurring.

The Manhattan Project was created out of the fear of their current enemy, Germany of making the first atomic bomb and using it in the war. The current President of the United States was Franklin Roosevelt. It was seen that Germany was making great advances in the war which worried many. But the people who were very worried were three prestigious scientists. Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, and Edward Teller who were Hungarian scientists who immigrated to the United States during the war. Szilard and the other scientists wished to advocate for the start of a program that put all efforts into making an atomic bomb. But of course they were very intelligent on how to get their cause across seriously. “Though the three men, particularly Szilard, were well known

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).

Well known scientist Albert Einstein, who fled from Nazi persecution, and Enrico Fermi who escaped Fascist Italy, were now living in the United States, on which they both agreed that the President should be enlightened of the vulnerability of atomic technology that was in the hands of Axis power. Fermi made an attempt and travelled to Washington in March to express his involvement with the government officials, who showed little to no concern. Einstein who as well shared a great concern in this topic; penned a letter to President Roosevelt imploring the development of an atomic research program later that year. Roosevelt saw neither prerequisite nor adequacy for such a project, but agreed to proceed gradually. In late 1941, the American effort to scheme and build an atomic bomb which received the code name as the Manhattan Project. The very first research was placed at only a few universities such as Columbia University, University of Chicago, and the University in California at Berkeley. The

In 1946, scientists created the first computer that filled an entire room(text). Its purpose was to calculate the trajectories of missiles and provided computation for military actions. Nuclear energy plants developed in 1958(text). Increased attention in education of engineering and sciences were implemented by President Eisenhower to place the United States on the same level of technological advancements as the Soviet Union(Document A). To better aid the construction of the atomic bomb, the United States created a base in Los Alamos, New Mexico for the production and testing of this complicated device. The base was considered a paradise for scientists(The Race). Though the location was very secretive, the USSR still developed its own atomic bomb and even beat the United States in launching the first satellite “Sputnik”(Atomic Café). As a result, many Americans felt that their country was lagging in the Arms Race. The satellite launch precipitated the National Defense Education Act(text) which increased allocation to one million dollars in spending for scientific education. These increased efforts and resources were dedicated to science and technology in order to place the United States in the forefront of the Arm’s Race and ensure the containment of The Red

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 August 2, 1939, just before the beginning of World War II, Albert Einstein wrote to then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Einstein and several other scientists told Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to purify uranium-235, which could be used to build an atomic bomb. It was shortly thereafter that the United States Government began the serious undertaking known then only as "The Manhattan Project." Simply put, the Manhattan Project was committed to expediting research that would produce a viable atomic bomb.

During World War II, the U.S., Germany, and Japan we’re all at war. Germany expanding, Hitler rising in power, Japan fighting, and the U.S. At the start of the war, the bomb was not yet invented. People realized that one of the only ways to defeat the others in war was by large explosions, but nobody had that kind of technology yet. There was a task set for scientists. With the approval of president Franklin D. Roosevelt, they began the Manhattan project. This was the creation of the Atomic Bomb.

In December of 1941, the United States entered into the second World War after the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. Due to these attacks and the dangerous rumors sprouting of German bomb builders, the U.S. decided to put efforts towards constructing the ultimate weapon of mass destruction: the Atomic Bomb. With billions of dollars and over 100,000 people, the Manhattan Project was founded to affirm these efforts by U.S. military and scientists. By the Manhattan Project we saw the unfortunate destruction of Japanese cities, the incredible advances in the world of science, and the threats of the cold war resulting in measures to protect against modern nuclear threats.

The seed was planted for the bomb in 1939 when Albert Einstein wrote President Roosevelt a letter regarding the danger of Germany obtaining such a weapon. "In 1942, President Theodore Roosevelt approved a plan to develop an atomic bomb. The plan's code name was the Manhattan Project." (Taylor, Page 25) The Atomic bomb was developed based on Frisch's theory of nuclear fission. (McKain, Page 39) The atomic bomb was developed as a defensive weapon for the United States to protect itself from the Germans attempting to obtain the bomb. The Manhattan Project was conducted by the best American and German refugee scientists, notable scientists include Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, and J. Robert Oppenheimer. The first objective of the Manhattan Project was to test the theory of nuclear fission. In 1942 Enrico Fermi led a group of scientists to create the first nuclear chain reaction at the University of Chicago. The success of this Fermi's experiment allowed the Manhattan Project to "Move from the theoretical stage to the practical construction of a device based around Fermi's chain reaction." (McKain, Page 78) The second large challenge to the project was producing enough fuel for a bomb, in this case Uranium-235 and Plutonium. To produce a bomb the scientists would need a large quantity of fissionable materials, these were Uranium-235 and Plutonium. "Uranium-235 and Plutonium are the fissionable materials used to make nuclear bombs. To obtain these rare elements, however, they must be extracted from Uranium." (McKain, Page 85) The scientists involved in the Manhattan Project were assisted in obtaining these materials by the DuPont company who used two facilities to produce these materials. As the materials were being gathered, scientists were convened in Los Alamos, New Mexico where they lived and worked to design and build the atomic bomb. By

The research of the bomb took place in over 30 locations across the United States and Canada, and the development of the bomb took place in Los Alamos, Mexico (Siracusa 34). Through extensive research by many world-renowned physicists, it was concluded that uranium-235 was the best choice for the atomic bomb and was chosen as the energy source of the first bombs. Once tested, the bombs were built and used as the final assaults in World War II against Japan.

Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can demolish a whole city, potentially killing millions, and exposed the natural environment and lives of future generations through its long-term catastrophic effects. According to the UNODA- United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (2011), “Although nuclear weapons have only been used twice in warfare- in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945-about 22,000 reportedly remains in our world today and there have been over 2,000 nuclear tests conducted to date.” Nuclear weapons have been viewed as a threat to peace by world leaders. There have been debates of whether to let Iran and North Korea acquire nuclear weapons, leaders all around the world along with Liberals believe that it is a threat to peace and should limit the spread whereas neo realist have another belief that nuclear weapon can make the world a peaceful place. Because states would fear to attack each other. For example the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and cold war- there were only threats and war did not happen because of nuclear deterrence. The Cuban missile crisis has frequently been portrayed as the only time where the world stood in the point of nuclear war between the superpowers. This is an example of how nuclear weapons were used to threaten the rival. Another examples would be that of India and Pakistan before they acquire nuclear weapon , they fought three bloody wars after having their independence but since 1998, after acquiring