Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the work of artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download The Atom Bomb and the Post-War World
Transcript
Lecture #6 The End of World War II (the Cold War) and the Rise of the Nuclear Age Part I- The Atom Bomb Decision The Theoretical Framework of the Atom Bomb • In roughly the year 1900, scientists discovered radiation and the atomic forces that bind atoms together • Ten years later, Einstein published his relativity theory • Einstein’s theory argued (in part) that matter was simply an incredibly concentrated bit of energy – It became theoretically possible that great energy could be released from matter – Nuclear power Einstein’s Warning • When World War II broke out, Einstein (a Jew who fled Nazi Germany) sent a letter to FDR warning that it was theoretically possible for the Nazis to build an atomic bomb • FDR made the decision to set up a special project to make an American bomb first The Manhattan Project • The top secret American project to build an atomic bomb • the Manhattan Project would eventually employ more than 130,000 people and cost a total of nearly $2 billion ($20 billion in 2004 dollars) – Irony of the fact that a great many of the U.S.’s scientists (and Einstein) were refugee European Jews? • The first two bombs were tested and ready after VE day but before V-J day OK To Bomb Civilians??? • The Industrial Revolution made it increasingly possible to target civilians – During WWI Germans dropped bombs on London from blimps • In addition, with total war, is there such a thing as a civilian? – Remember, everyone is working towards the war effort! Yeah, But Aren’t We the Good Guys? • Japan – Rape of Nanking • Germany – Holocaust • Allies are too nice, right? – Actually, the first major bombing of civilians was carried out by the British who were desperate during the air battle called the Battle of Britain – They bombed German cities • Even the U.S.??? – As our troops marched on Berlin and hopped towards Japan, we developed the tactic of firebombing – Dresden, Tokyo as examples Tokyo Firebombing • Bombing accuracy during WWII was poor – Bombs had to be dropped from a high altitude and bombers had to dodge enemy fire • With incendiary bombs, no need to ‘hit’ your target – Just drop a million little ‘hot’ bombs and start a fire • March 9th, 1945 – – – – – – 334 bombers American bombers attacked Tokyo 1700 tons of incendiaries dropped Between 80k and 100k Japanese killed that night More immediate deaths than either atom bomb 1 million made homeless! 14 American bombers lost The Atom Bombs • Use them… – We spent billions on them during a total war. Why spend it if not use them? – Arguably save 1 million Americans by not having to invade home islands • Iwo and Okinawa have demonstrated Japanese resolve • …or not? – Japanese probably would have surrendered anyway – Kill innocents (babies, elderly, etc.) – American reputation? We used THE nastiest weapon ever (and we are the only country to have done so!) Our Decision • Use both of the bombs that were ready – Hiroshima – Nagasaki • Cities chosen because they were undamaged up to that point – We can observe the power of the bombs (No notes on this section!) Hiroshima, Japan: August 6th, 1945 8:15am: The mushroom cloud looms over the city and OVER 70,000 people are killed instantly. This number of deaths will increase to 140,000 over the course of a year. How Much Damage did the Atomic Bomb Cause in Hiroshima? From the Hypocenter: 1-2 miles in all directions: • Pressure Wave. Winds of 500 to 100 mph. This force would crush internal organs and sent a fireball outward. As buildings are destroyed, gas lines rupture and more fires are started. • 99% of people die – people are vaporized from intense heat or die from fatal third degree burns that are hotter than the sun. Within 5 miles: • Winds of 150mph – wood and stone structures destroyed • People suffer from second degree burns – half of the people are killed or seriously injured. Within 10 Miles • Winds shatter all windows – glass spears travel at speeds of over 100 mph and these imbed themselves in humans, walls, trees, etc. • Firestorms – heat exceeds 1400 degrees Within 35 miles • Blinding of the Eyes – if one glanced at the bombs bright light their eyes will become burned an the person becomes blind • Nuclear Fallout • Radioactive atoms in the air which eventually fall to the ground and contaminate the soil and water with radioactivity. Humans and animals in close vicinity to the blast within the first few hours will be exposed to high levels of radiation. The greater the exposure the greater the chances of developing cancer and immune deficiencies. Symptoms may develop years after exposure. Side Note*** There are enough nuclear weapons today to drop 1 Hiroshima-sized nuclear bomb every 8 miles on every continent in the world. After the Second Atom Bomb Japan Surrendered • V-J Day • End of World War II Part II. The Post War World • Cleaning up the Mess – The United Nations – The Nuremberg War Tribunal – The founding of the state of Israel The United Nations • Revision of the League of Nations – Prevent future war • But a few key modifications – Has a military! – Victors of World War II give themselves a special power • General Assembly regular voting nations • Security Council China, Soviet Union, America, Britain, and France can veto, unilaterally, any United Nations decision/action The Nuremberg War Tribunal • Try Nazis for their crimes • Need for a new legal principle – Why? • Crimes Against Humanity Foundation of the State of Israel • Where should the surviving Jews of Europe go? • ‘Never again’! • UN declared Israel a state in 1946. It was promptly attacked by its Arab neighbors who resented having a piece of their land taken from them • Israel, with support from guilty western nations, defeated the Arabs. Who Runs the World Now? • Europe was exhausted after two World Wars • The U.S. and the Soviet Union were the two remaining great powers – They have completely opposite views of the future Capitalism v Communism • Stalin Refused to allow elections in Eastern Europe • Churchill, in 1946 gave his ‘iron curtain’ speech – The iron curtain? Hansen Name ___________________ U.S. History Period __________________ WWII Lecture Lecture #6- The Atom Bomb and the Post-War World Part I. The Atom Bomb Decision • The Theoretical Framework of the Atom Bomb – In roughly ____________, scientists discovered radiation and the _____________________________________________ – Ten years later, Einstein published _____________________ – Einstein’s theory argued (in part) that matter was simply an _________________________________________________ • It became theoretically possible that ________could be released from _______________ • __________________________ • Einstein’s ____________________ – When World War II broke out, Einstein (a ______________ Nazi Germany) sent a letter to _______ warning that it was _________________________ for the Nazis to build an atomic bomb – FDR made the decision to set up a special project to ______ ________________________________________________ • The ________________________ Project – The ____________ American project to build an atomic bomb – the Manhattan Project would eventually employ more than __________people and cost a total of nearly $2 billion ($____ billion in 2004 dollars) • Irony of the fact that a great many of the U.S.’s scientists (and Einstein) were ___________________? – – • _________________________________________ – • • The _________________were tested and ready after __________ but before _______________ OK to Bomb ____________?? – ____________________________made it increasingly possible to target civilians • During WWI Germans dropped bombs on __________ ___________________________ – In addition, with total war, is there _____________________? • Remember, _________________________________ the war effort! Yeah, but Aren’t We the Good Guys??? – Japan • ______________________ – Germany • ____________________ • Allies are too nice, right? • Actually, the first _______________________ was carried out by the British who were ____________________________________ called the Battle of Britain • They bombed _______________________ – Even the U.S.??? • As our troops marched on Berlin and hopped towards Japan, we developed the tactic of ___________________ • ___________, __________as examples Tokyo Firebombing – Bombing accuracy during WWII ____________ • Bombs had to be dropped from ______________ and bombers had to _______ ______________________________________ – With incendiary bombs, no need to ________________ • Just drop a ___________________________ and start a fire – March 9th, 1945 • ______________________ flew over Japan • 1700 tons of ___________________________ • Between ___and ___ Japanese killed that night • More ______________ than either atom bomb • _____________ made homeless! • ____________________________lost The Atom Bombs – Use them… • We spent ___________on them during a _____ _____________. Why spend it if not use them? • Arguably save 1 million Americans by not having to ___________________________ – Iwo and Okinawa have _____________ ________________________________ – …or not? • Japanese probably would have _____________ ____________________________ • Kill innocents (____________, elderly, etc.) • American ___________? We used _______________ weapon ever (and we are the ________________ have done so!) • • Our Decision – Use both of the bombs that were ready • _________________ • Nagasaki – Cities chosen because they were _____________________ • We can observe the __________________________ After the Second Atom Bomb Japan Surrendered – ______________________ – End of World War II Part II. The Post War World • Cleaning up the Mess – The United Nations – The Nuremberg War Tribunal – The founding of the state of Israel • The United Nations – Revision of the League of Nations • _______________________________ – But a few key modifications • Has a __________________! • Victors of World War II gave themselves a special power – General Assembly ________________ – Security Council China, _____________, America, Britain, and _____________ can _________, ________________, any United Nations decision/action • Nuremberg War Tribunal – – – Try ________________________________________ Need for a new legal principle • Why? - _________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Crimes Against _ __________________ • • Foundation of the State of Israel – Where should the surviving __________________ go? – ‘_____________’! – UN declared Israel a state ___________. It was promptly attacked by its _____________________ who resented having __________________________________________ ___________________________ – Israel, with support from ____________________________, defeated the Arabs. Who Runs the World Now??? – Europe was ______________________ two World Wars – The U.S. and the Soviet Union were the two remaining _____________________________________ • They have completely ____________ views of the future _______________ v ______________________ – Stalin Refused to ___________________________________ – Churchill, in 1946 gave his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech • The Iron Curtain? ____________________________ ___________________________________________
