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Begins
Sometime during 1931, Heavy Hydrogen or deuterium is discobered by Harold C. Urey. -
Atom Split
Sometime during 1932, the atom is split by John Crockcroft and E.T.S. Walton of Great Britain thereby proving Einstein's Theory of Relativity which states, "an object in motion creates its own timeframe." -
Nuclear Chain Reaction
During 1933, Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard realizes the possibility of the nuclear chain reaction. -
Nuclear Fission
During 1934, The first nuclear fission is achieved by Enrico Fermi of Italy -
Theory of Nuclear Fission
The Theory of Nuclear Fission is announced by Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch -
Discovery of Fission
At a conference at George Washington University, Neils Bhr announced the discovery of Fission -
Military
Robert Oppenheimer realizes the military possiblities of nuclear fission. -
Letter #1
LetterAlbert Einstein writes a letter to Franklin Roosevelt conserning the use of uranium as a new sorce of energy leading to the formation of the Committee of Uranium -
WWII Begins
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Letter #2
Letter #2
Albert Einstein wrote a letter of FDR informing of German interest in developing the Atomic Bomb. -
Letter #3
Letter #3
Albert Enstein writes to President Roosevelt informing him of the larger scale tests that will be needed on the atomic bomb. -
Plutonium
Plutonium is discovered by Glenn Seaborg -
The "Go-Ahead"
FDR gives the "go-ahead" for the development of atomic weapons. -
Manhattan Engineering District
FDR authorizd the Manhattan engineering District for the purpose of creating an atomic bomb. This would later be called the 'Manhattan Project'. -
Manhattan Project
Coloneal Leslie Groves is placed in charge of the Manhattan Project. J. Robert Oppenheimer becomes the Project's Scientific Director. -
First Reaction
First controlled nuclear fission reaction is produced by Enrico Rermi at the University of Chicago. -
The Target is Choosen
Japan becomes the primary target for any future atomic bomb according to the Military Policy Committee of the Manhattan Project. -
Letter #4
Letter #4
Albert Einstein informs President Roosevelt to support Leo Szilards judgement about the atomic bomb. -
Death of FDR
President Franklin Roosevelt dies and Harry Truman is named 33rd President of the United States of America -
The Target Committee
The Target Committee of the Manhattan Project select four cities as posssible targets for the atomic bomb. They are; Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kokura, and Niigata. Nagasaki was not originally on the list of targets. -
V-Day
The War Ends in Europe -
The Warning
Leo Szliard attempts to warn President Truman in person concerning the dangers of the atomic weapon. -
The Petition
Leo Szilard begins a petition to get President Truman to call off using the atomic bomb in Japan. -
Unconditional Surrender
American intellegence discobers the only obstacle to peace with Japan is 'unconstitutional surrender'. -
First Test
Survivor Story - account of one's expierence during the test of the Atomic Bomb
The world's first atomic detonation takes place in the 'Trinity Test' at Alamogordo, New Mexico. -
Go Ahead
Tresident Truman officially orders atomic bomb to be used on Japan. -
Potsdam Declaration
Potsdam Declaration is issued calling for the 'unconditional surrender of Japan' -
Rejection
Japan rejects the Potsdam Declaration. -
Little Boy
Survivor storyPresident Truman
Link One: Survivor Story
Link Two: President Turman
A uranium bomb, by the name of Little Boy, is detonated over Hiroshima, Japan. it kills between 90,000 and 100,000 people immediatly. Presidet Truman addresses the United States -
Warning
The United States decides to drop warning pamphlets over Japanese cities. -
Fat Man
Survivor Story - story of one survivor of Nagasaki
The second atomic bomb to hit Japan, Fat Man, was schuduled to be dropped at Kokura. However, because of poor weather conditions, the target was moved to Nagasaki. -
Nation is Addressed
President Truman addresses the nation. -
Warning #2
The United States drops warning leaflets on Nagasaki. -
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Hydrogen Bomb
Edward Teller approches Robert Oppenheimer to aid in the building of a new hydrogen bomb. Oppenheimer refuses. -
The New Yorker
Hiroshima - The New Yorker - Primary Source
A year after World War II ended, a leading American weekly magazine published a striking description of what life was like for those who survived a nuclear attack. The article, simply titled "Hiroshima," was published by The New Yorker in its August 31, 1946 issue. The 31 thousand word article displaced virtually all other editorial matter in the issue.
Copies of The New Yorker sold out immediately -
The Decision to use the Atomic Bomb
ArticleThe dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) remains among themost controversial events in modern history. Historians have actively debated whether the bombings were
necessary, what effect they had on bringing the war in the Pacific to an expeditious end, and what other options
were available to the United States. Henry Lewis Stimson discusses this in his aticle "The Decision to use the Atomic Bomb"
