Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project: An Ethical Debate

As part of a study on World War II, students will understand the importance of the establishment and the impact of Oak Ridge nuclear facilities, examine and evaluate the rationale behind using the atomic bomb to end the war, and analyze primary and secondary sources aimed at offering varying perspectives on the Manhattan Project, with an emphasis on the Tennesseeperspective.

Weblink address (URL): 
Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project: An Ethical Debate
Home Page- source

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

In the course of the lesson, students will:

  • Analyze primary and secondary sources in order to determine the central idea
  • Cite textual evidence to analyze thesesources
  • Understand the importance of Oak Ridge during World War II
Essential and guiding questions: 
  • What role did Oak Ridge, Tennessee play in the creation, development, and use of the atomic bomb to end World War II?
  • What impact did the establishment of Oak Ridge nuclear facilities have on the State of Tennessee?
  • What was the rationale for using the atomic bomb to end the war?
  • Was the United States decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan justified?
  • What are the key arguments for and against the use of the atomic bomb to end WWII?
  • How has the use of the atomic bomb affected the worldview of the United States then and now?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Extension suggestions: 

Closure/Formal Writing Assignment:
US.69 Write an opinion piece evaluating the Manhattan Project, including the rationale for using the atomic bomb to end the war. (H)
Each student will need to write a formal opinion piece, evaluating the Manhattan Project and the rationale for using the atomic bomb to end WWII. Students should use their debate organizers to help form their writing, and they should cite evidence from sources and text throughout their writing. Finally, students should work to incorporate the Tennessee perspective into this piece.

Helpful Hints

Materials Needed:

  • TSLA Website, with particular emphasis on the following sources:
    • Letter to Governor Prentice Cooper from Crenshaw
    • The Clinton Pile- Photograph of X-10 Pile Reactor
    • Letter to Prentice from Nichols andCornell
    • Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant Photograph
    • Clinton Laboratories X-10 Photograph
    • TEC Bulletin, Monday, September3
    • Letter to Guy Smith, Knoxville
    • Couple Embracing in Front of Manhattan ProjectPhotograph
    • Issue of Memphis Commercial Appeal, August 7, 1945
    • Electromagnetic Plant Y-12 Photograph
    • Aeronautical Map
    • Experimentation on LivestockPhotograph
    • Issue- Knoxville Sentinel- August 6,1945
    • TEC Bulletin, August 27, 1945
    • TEC Bulletin, August 13, 1945
    • Interview of George Parker describing Ethical Debate of A Bomb
    • Son of Eve Political Cartoon
    • Celebrating “Operation Crossroads” at Bikini Atoll Photograph
  • Transcript and video of the Truman announcement of the dropping of the atomicbomb
  • War Department Video
  • Copies of the Albert Einstein Letter to President Roosevelt
  • Team packet/role lists (available at the end of this lesson plan)
  • Debate organizer (available at the end of this lessonplan)
  • Debate Cards- Optional- May assist in keeping order during the debate. Can be printed on varying colors and cut for each student.
  • Internet access/computer use for students/research
  • Primary and secondary source analysis sheets