Manhattan Project-The Building of the atomic bomb

On August second of the year 1939, Albert Einstein sent a letter, written by Leo Szilard, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt telling Roosevelt of the opportunity that nuclear power could be harnessed into a weapon, and also warning of the threat of Germany discovering how to make it first. Both this opportunity and this fear led to the development of the Manhattan project; a group of scientists dedicated to finding use for atomic power as a weapon.

In the 1930’s there were many interesting and intriguing discoveries on atomic power and fission. These discoveries excited some scientists, but most believed that nuclear power would never be able to be harnessed into use as a weapon. Later in that decade, Leo Szilard discovered that a chain reaction, called fusion, might be possible. He went to the United States and asked for funding, but was laughed at and flatly rejected, several times. After petitioning through Albert Einstein, Szilard was finally granted the $100 to buy graphite,...