Chicago’s Role in Ending the War

Chicago History

Bell Ringer

O’Hare Expansion: 1940s vs. 2010s What were the reasons for building O’Hare Airport after

WWII? What do you think the reasons are for expanding O’Hare

Airport in the coming years? Are these reasons important enough to displace people

from their homes if they live by the airport? Homework

Mr. Verdaguer’s Week 3 Blog due tonight at 12AM. Bring your City of Big Shoulders Book tomorrow WWII Test on Tuesday Next Week (May 4)

The Manhattan Project What do you know? The codename for the

project conducted by the US government to build the 1st atomic bomb. Why did the US want to

develop the bomb? Started in 1939, they

were afraid Nazi Germany were developing these types of weapons.

The Chicago Connection: The Met Lab

The Metallurgical Lab Part of the Manhattan

Project Located under Stagg Field

in the University of Chicago campus.

Their main objective was to create a self sustaining chain reaction with uranium and plutonium.

This would be called the first “nuclear reactor”.

Today it now located in DuPage County IL under the name Argonne National Laboratory.

Enrico Fermi and Chicago Pile-1 Enrico Fermi

Italian physicist and Nobel Prize winner

He headed the Met Lab in their efforts to create the nuclear reactor.

Chicago Pile-1 On December 2, 1942,

Fermi and his group of scientists created the first artificial, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

An important part of the Manhattan Project was now complete.

Shifting the Bomb’s Focus Fermi’s efforts have paved the way for the successful creation of

the first atom bomb. The Manhattan Project was a nationwide collaboration.

So what was the target? Is it still Nazi Germany? By 1945, Nazi Germany was close to surrendering to the Allies. War in the Pacific was favoring the Allies, but the Japanese forces were

unwilling to surrender.

Truman and his Decision The Japanese had shown an

unwillingness to surrender. Battle of Okinawa

Over 100,000 Japanese and 50,000 US casualties.

Japanese civilians joined the war against the US.

So what would an invasion of Japan mean? A staggering loss of life for both

sides. The US would have to deal with

both Japanese soldiers and civilians.

Invasion was the only way to ensure unconditional surrender from Japan.

By early August 1945, President Truman had made his decision after giving the Japanese government an ultimatum in the Potsdam Conference.

The Little Boy and the Fat Man On Aug. 6 1945, the

US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Codename “Little

Boy” Three days later on

Aug. 9, the US drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Codename “Fat Man”

The Effects of the Bomb Short-Term

Death toll of an estimated 120,000

Completely destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Japan surrenders to the Allies.

Long-Term Environmental effects The birth of weapons of

mass destruction (WMD). The creation of tensions

between the US and the Soviet Union. The Cold War begins.

RAFT: The Ethics of Using the Bomb Role: A member of

Truman’s Cabinet Audience: President

Truman Format: A letter for or

against… Topic: …On using the

atomic bomb to make Japan surrender.

Is using the atomic bomb the right thing to do? Why or why not? List your reasons

(You can bullet point!)

Are there any other alternatives to the bomb? If so, what?