By Tracy Zander
On August 6th, 1945 the first atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy" was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan from an American B-52 bomber called the Enola Gay. It caused unimaginable death, devistation, and human injuries. Most of the buildings within a 1.5 mile radius were destroyed It has been documented that more than 140,000 people died by the end of the year. The people affected included students, soldiers and also many Koreans who worked in factories within the city of Hiroshima. The total number of people who have died due to the devistation is estimated to be around 200,000.
Just three days after the "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima, it was followed by a second, lareger atomic bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" dropped on the city of Nagasaki. killing or injuring 150,000 more citizens the devistation was only slightly smaller due to the geographic structure of the city. By the end of the year, this second bomb is said to have caused approximatley 70,000 deaths. The dropping of the atomic bombs prompted the end of World War II.
As a group you will make a 40 minute final presentation to the class including a visuals of any kind, photos, posters, powerpoint project, videos etc. Be prepared to answer questions from the instructor or the class regarding your decison. Your paper must be turned in the same day of your presentation. Your presentation will answer the question: "Would you have made the decison to drop the twoatomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?"
As a group you will make a 40 minute final presentation to the class including a visuals of any kind, photos, posters, powerpoint project, videos etc. Be prepared to answer questions from the instructor or the class regarding your decison. Your paper must be turned in the same day of your presentation.
U.S. Pilot of the Enola Gay
President Harry S. Truman
Citizen of Hiroshima or Nagasaki
Any U.S. General (Leahy, Eisenhower, Arnold, Groves, Marshall)
Scientist involved in the making of the Atomic Bomb (Teller, Szilard, Franck, Compton, Oppenheimer)
U. S. Citizen
Japanese War Minister Anami
Japanese Emperor Hirohito
The following is helpful information and links to help you research your roles. You may use some or all of the information listed to help you in your research. Make sure you use the links provided, but also use your own reasearch ideas, links, books etc. as well.
Links to Websites
Engola Gay-Information regarding the plane that dropped the atomic bombs
Atomic bomb -Atomic bomb museum Civilian interviews, photos, etc.
The Engola Gay info site -Information Engola Gay
Links to the decision makers -Links to various decision makers regarding the bombing
International Law-bombing of civilians -Information regarding international law regarding civilians
Oppenheimer -Target committee meeting regarding bombing
President Truman - Radio speech regarding bombing
Bombing Essay-Brief Synopsis of bombing
Truman Library-President Truman regarding bombing
Resource Books
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
by Richard Rhodes
Now It Can Be Told: The Story of the Manhattan Project
by Leslie R. Groves
Los Alamos Beginning of an Era: 1943-1945
by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Public Relations Staff , Los Alamos Scientific Laborato
Racing for the Bomb: General Leslie R. Groves, the Manhattan Project's Indispensable Man
by Robert S. Norris
Brotherhood of the Bomb : The Tangled Lives and Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence and Edward Teller
by Gregg Herken
Robert Oppenheimer Letters and Recollections
by Robert Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer: Shatterer of Worlds
by Peter Goodchild
In the Shadow of the Bomb
by Silvan S. Schweber
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Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score |
Final Paper
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Did not follow directions. Left out information. Not enough time put into final product. Errors in paper Reflecting a beginning level of performance |
Contains most info. Some parts need improvement. Followed most directions. Some errors in paper movement toward mastery of performance |
Includes all information, Followed all directions. Minor errors in paper reflecting mastery of performance |
Near perfect, no errors, well done!!! Highest level of performance |
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Overall Final Presentation
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Did not follow directions Left out information Not enough time put into final product Reflecting a beginning level of performance |
Contains most info Some parts need improvement Followed most directions Some errors movement toward mastery of performance |
Includes all information Followed all directions Minor errors reflecting mastery of performance |
Near perfect, no errors, well done!!! Highest level of performance. |
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Visuals used in Presentations
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No visuals used. Did not follow directions. Beginning level of performance. |
Visuals present, needed improvement Movement toward mastery of performance. |
Great visuals Reflecting mastery of performance. |
Visuals were clever and well thought out. Highest level of performance. |
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Additional Comments |
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Final Score |
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Congratulations!!!
You have completed your project and now have an understanding of the very contraversial decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan. After more than 50 years this topic still remains very contraversial and stirs up heated debates for many people. Though the final decision was made by President Truman, he consulted many different people before making his final decision. As you have experienced in your debates and reasearch, the affects of the atomic bomb were extensive and had no boundries. I hope you learned enough from this lesson to have a greater appreciation of the enormous undertaking of this decision and how everyone involved was affected. The more this topic is discussed and researched, the better understood it is. This lesson was not meant to condone or condemn the bombing, but to help you better understand one of the most contraversial decisions ever made and bring you closer to how and why this decsion was made and who it affected. I hope this will bring a better understanding of what peace is, how it can be achieved, and why it is so important.
