The Atomic Bomb

BY: Santiago Pineda

HIS 122: US History since The Civil War

Professor Clay
February 19, 2019
Senior Division
Website
Process paper: 500 words
 The topic that I decided use for my history project is the history of the atomic bomb for
this year’s theme of triumph and tragedy. I decided to do this project because I had an interest of
the bomb since I first learned about it because it was in some of the video games that I played. I
learned a little about how destructive the atomic bomb is from the video games I played and the
videos that I looked at on YouTube that was talking about the bomb. I also watched some videos
on the bomb that talked about its history and the role that it played in WWII, which, I was also
interested in learning about because lots of things from movies to video games are about WWII.
I also chose this topic because when I looked into the history of the bomb I found that it goes
well with this year’s theme, which is about triumph and tragedy because of the success of
creating the bomb and the destruction of the bomb so I thought it would be a perfect topic.
For my project, I began looking for my resources online with google to find some very
good secondary sources, which did help me start the project. I looked for various trustworthy
websites with credible information and this helped me get an idea of where to start when looking
for the information on the atomic bomb. I began looking on google because of the amount of
good secondary sources that you can find on the topic but there were also bad resources like
blogs so I carefully looked at each source I chose and looked at not only the text but also where it
came from and their resources. For my primary sources and some of my secondary sources like
books, I looked for them on the Aims library because it was an easy way to find primary sources
and reliable secondary sources like books. The Aims library is where most of my research was
found because of the large data base that they have so I can look at many different sources with
different perspectives on the atomic bomb.
I used a couple of important sources for my history project that helped me get the most
important information on the atomic bomb. One source that was important is “Atomic Bombing
of Hiroshima Announcement” because it talked about how it was a triumph for the United States
to create the atomic bomb and information on when and why the atomic bomb was dropped on
Hiroshima. “Hiroshima Witness No.3-3” was also important because the source is a primary
source and it is about the experiences that some people had with the atomic bomb drop on
Hiroshima. “The Gadget” photo is also an important source because it shows what the atomic
bomb was like in development. These are important for my project because they help shape the
whole project and help provide very crucial information about the atomic bomb.
 Bibliography
Primary Sources
Einstein, Albert, letter. Albert Einstein to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. August 2, 1939
This source is a letter that was created in 1939 by Albert Einstein to Franklin Delano Roosevelt
and it is about information regarding the start of the atomic bomb creation also known as the
start of the Manhattan Project. This source is a primary source and it is a letter. I need this source
for my project because for the section talking about the atomic bomb creation, I need to talk
about the letter because it is the beginning of the true start on developing the atomic bomb.
"The Gadget", the first nuclear bomb detonated at the Trinity test site in Alamogordo, New
Mexico on July 16, 1945.
This source is a photograph about the first ever atomic bomb created that successfully detonated
that the Manhattan Project helped create. This source is a photograph of the first atomic bomb
created and this source is a primary source. I need this source for my project because I do talk
about the history of the atomic bomb and the Manhattan project so it is important to know what
the first atomic bomb was
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. Fat Man, the atomic
bomb detonated over Nagasaki.
This source is a photograph about the atomic bomb that was dropped over Nagasaki during
World War II. This source is a primary source and it is a picture about the atomic bomb named
the “Fat Man”. I need this source for my project because I will be talking about the bombing of
Nagasaki and the atomic bomb that was dropped on that place.
US government DOD and/or DOE photograph - Copy from U.S. National Archives, RG 77-
AEC. Chuck Hansen, The Swords of Armageddon: U.S. Nuclear Weapons Development Since
1945 (Sunnyvale, CA: Chukelea Publications, 1995).
This source is a photograph about the atomic bomb that was dropped over Hiroshima during
World War II. This source is a primary source and it is a picture of the atomic bomb called
“Little Boy”. I need this source for my project because it is a photograph of the atomic bomb that
was dropped on Hiroshima.
Saeki, Toshiko, and Akiko Takakura. "Hiroshima Witness No.3-3." (1941-1945). Accessed
November 3, 2018. https://proxy1.aims.edu:2081/eds/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=0e3e1ad5-06b5-
43a6-9c44-baafe4dd697d@pdc-v-
sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#AN=21212740&db=khh
This source is an interview about the experiences of Toshiko Saeki and Akiko Takakura when
they faced when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and what they did during this time.
This source is credible because it is a primary source with the witnesses of two people of when
the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The reason why I need this in my project because it
will be good to have a person that experienced the destruction of the atomic bomb, which is
about the tragedy that Japan faced from the bombing.
Harry S, Truman. "Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima Announcement."(1920-1990). Accessed
November 3, 2018. https://proxy1.aims.edu:2075/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=c9eb0b7a-08c3-
4d3f-8cdb-a8e237c6293a@sdc-v-
sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#AN=21212234&db=khh
This source is about an announcement that president Truman did after the atomic bomb was
dropped on Hiroshima to establish control and also the power of the atomic bomb and how it can
bring peace. This source is credible because it is a primary source from the president after the
atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and it is a speech from the president at the time. The
reason why I need this source in my project is because it talks about the triumph that the U.S
achieved or can achieve with the atomic bomb.
This source is about the health problems, the effects of the atomic bomb, and the life expectancy
of people that were survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This source is
credible because, it is a secondary source that is about the negative health effects that people
faced in the droppings of the atomic bomb. I need this source in my project because it helps me
talk about the tragedy that people faced in the atomic bomb droppings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.
Stimson, Henry L. "The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb." January 8, 2017. Accessed
November 3, 2018. https://proxy1.aims.edu:2081/eds/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=f3898155-f19f-
4208-8a2e-
725d69dea0df@sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#AN=21212319&db=kh
This source is about the decision of dropping the atomic bomb on Japan, the process of
developing the bomb and testing the bomb, the political opinion of Stimson of the dropping of
the bomb, and also the success of how the U.S used the bomb to make Japan surrender. This
source is credible because it is a primary source of someone looking into the atomic bomb’s
success and the person’s opinion on what they thought of the dropping of the atomic bomb in
Japan.
Nitze, Paul H. "Was Truman Right to Drop the Bomb?" July 25, 1995. Accessed November 3,
2018. https://proxy1.aims.edu:2075/eds/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=d87e2d8d-d256-4bdb-8177-
929c7e922564@sdc-v-
sessmgr05&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#AN=9510095134&db=khh
This source is about a speech that Paul H. Nitze made that is dealing with the issue of how the
U.S use the atomic bomb against Japan. This source is credible because it is a primary source
that is about someone talking about the use of the atomic bomb against Japan. I need this source
in my project because it helps me with the theme of triumph and tragedy and also because it is in
a different perspective with tragedy.
Tyrrell, Frank G. "Is the Use of the Atomic Bomb Justified?" September 5, 1945. Accessed
November 3, 2018.
https://proxy1.aims.edu:2075/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=b1f27f27-430c-4b91-8c38-
980cd924fb61@sessionmgr101
This source is about a speech that Frank Tyrrell made to talk about the use of the atomic bomb
and if it is justified to use the bomb. This source is credible because it is a primary source of a
person that is questioning if the atomic bomb should be used. I need this source in my project
because it helps me explain the problems of using the atomic bomb and if the U.S should use it
which goes well of the theme of tragedy in this project.

Secondary Sources
Cologne, John B., and Dale L. Preston. "Longevity of Atomic-bomb Survivors." The Lancet 356,
no. 9226 (July 22, 2000): 303-07. Accessed November 3, 2018.
https://proxy1.aims.edu:2075/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=dcff3026-6caa-41cc-9dcc-
c667dbf447e8%40sessionmgr4008&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=3351548&db
=pbh
This source is about the health problems, the effects of the atomic bomb, and the life expectancy
of people that were survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This source is
credible because, it is a secondary source that is about the negative health effects that people
faced in the droppings of the atomic bomb. I need this source in my project because it helps me
talk about the tragedy that people faced in the atomic bomb droppings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.
Powaski, Ronald E. Return to Armageddon: The United States and the Nuclear Arms Race,
1981-1999. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
This source is about the some of the history of the atomic bomb including the arms race that the
United States had with the Soviet Union. This source is a book and it is a secondary source that I
found in the Aims online library. This is source is important for my project because it talks about
the nuclear arms race that the United States had with the Soviet Union.
“History leading up to the creation of the atomic bomb”, AtomCentral.com, accessed September
7, 2018. http://www.atomcentral.com/atom-bomb-history.aspx .
This source is about the history leading up to the creation of the atomic bomb and the discovery
of nuclear energy. This is a .com and it is a secondary source that I have found on google. This is
important for my project because I need to talk about what happened before the bomb and when
the creation started.
Johnson, Kathleen. “Atomic Bomb Development Summary”, Cold War Museum, accessed
September 7, 2018. http://www.coldwar.org/articles/40s/atomic_bomb_dvlp.asp
This source is about a summary of the atomic bomb’s development. It is about when they
discovered how to split the uranium atom where/who found this discovery. This source is a .org
that is an secondary source and has an author. I need this source for my project because I need a
summary that talks about the events of the atomic bomb to sum up some events quickly or for
small amounts of information that I can expand on.
Sullivan, Neil J., “The Prometheus Bomb: The Manhattan Project and Government in the Dark”,
Lincoln, Potomac Books. 2016.
This source is about the dangers of the Atomic bomb and when the Manhattan Project was
started. This source is a secondary source, it is an eBook, and it is by Sullivan, Neil J. This
source can help me with my project because I can talk about when development of the bomb
started and why this bomb can cause mass destruction.
Burr, William. “The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II”, National Security Archive,
August 7, 2017, accessed September 7, 2018. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb525-The-
Atomic-Bomb-and-the-End-of-World-War-II/
This source is about the after math of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also
when Japan surrendered in World War II. In addition, they also talk about a collection of primary
sources of the atomic bomb as well as the end of World War II and some pictures of two types of
atomic bombs and the after math. This source is a .Edu and this is a secondary source with an
author. I need this for my project because I need a lot of information on the events and effects of
the bomb and this source provides plenty of information.
Craig, Campbell “The Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War”, New Haven, Yale
University Press. 2008.
This source is about the cold war, the atomic bomb, and how the United States decided to be ok
with the Soviet Union so they do not start a nuclear war. This source is a secondary source and it
is an eBook and it is by the author Craig, Campbell. This source will help me with my project
because it I can talk about why it is good to have some to protect us but it can also be dangerous
of a war using these bombs occur.
Jacobs, Robert A. "Curing the Atomic Bomb Within: The Relationship of American Social
Scientists to Nuclear Weapons in the Early Cold War." Peace & Change 35, no. 3 (July 1, 2010):
434-63. Accessed November 3, 2018.
https://proxy1.aims.edu:2075/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=4aef17cb-e78c-4315-aff4-
43ae49221bd4%40pdc-v-sessmgr05
This article is about the responses of social scientists of the atomic bomb, why human violence is
to blame rather than social violence, and the part that social scientist will play when they plan for
a nuclear war. This source is credible because it is a secondary source that is on topic with the
atomic bomb. I need this source in my project because it will help me talk about some
perspectives that people have on atomic bombs and other nuclear weapons.
“Atomic Bomb History”, History Chanel, August 21, 2018, September 12, 2018,
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/atomic-bomb-history
This source is about the history of the atomic bomb. This source talks about when this bomb
started and when it was used in the past. This also talks about how devastating this bomb is by
talking about the aftermath of what the bomb did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This source is
an .com but it is from the history channel and has good information but as no author. This source
is important for my project because I need to talk about Hiroshima and Nagasaki more into
depth.
Schweber, S.S, “In the Shadow of the Bomb”, Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press. 2007.
This source is about how two physicists were related to the creation of the Atomic bomb and also
the moral responsibility they had. This source is a secondary source and it is a eBook by an
author named Schweber. This source is important to my essay because I can talk about the
dangers and how people who created it felt when they were developing the bomb
Kort, Michel, “The Columbia Guide to Hiroshima and the Bomb”, New York, Columbia
University Press. 2012.
This source is about the aftermath of Hiroshima and the debate of the use of this weapon. This
source is a secondary source and it is an eBook by the author Kort, Michel. This source will help
me with the project because I need to talk about the destruction of the atomic bomb and it will
help me argue that the use of the bomb creates destruction.