The Manhattan Project

   The Manhattan Project was a U.S. project lasting from August 1942 to August 1946. This project developed the atomic energy program. It is known for the Atomic bomb. Before any of this happened, Germany was ahead of anyone. Germany had a heavy-water plant, uranium chemicals, scientists and engineers. They also had the best chemical engineering industry in the world. Before WWII, the United States was concerned about the nuclear threat of the Axis.

   Before any ideas about the Manhattan Project were discussed, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received a letter from Albert Einstein on August 2, 1939. The topic was physics and the building of powerful bombs. Einstein later went on to help the United States begin research on fission and uranium.

    In June of 1942, the United States announced their nuclear program. It was under the Army Corps of Engineers. The goal was to build an atomic weapon before Japan or Germany.

   The Manhattan Project was officially started on May 12, 1942. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an order to start this secret project. The project was named after the Manhattan Engineer District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This was because most of the research was done here. Tests were done in three cities. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Los Alamos, New Mexico and Hanford, Washington.

   On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped onto Hiroshima. This resulted in the death of over 100,000 people. After this attack the Japanese government decided still not to surrender to the United States. On August 9, 1945 the United States attacked Nagasaki. After this, Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.

   The Manhattan Project made it possible for the United States to have weapons that are the most destructive. This played a key role in future nuclear weapons.