Panel III: Contextualizing the Present
Event Title
The Power of Fission: How the Discovery of Fission Adversely Affected US/Soviet Relations
Start Date
31-3-2012 11:15 AM
End Date
31-3-2012 1:00 PM
Description
In 1940 FDR told the leading Western scientists that they were not responsible for the way science was being used to perpetuate oppressive world domination. He went on to convince them that while they could not trust Hitler to use their knowledge towards positive means, they could trust the United States to forward the values of world peace.
In light of the events that followed from that speech in 1940 to the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, without informing the Soviet Union, this pivotal moment insights a series of questions concerning the ways in which the United States’ actions affected the opportunity for maintaining postwar peace with the Soviet Union. The events that led from the discovery of fission to the use of the atomic bomb can be analyzed through both the physicists’ experiences and government officials’ decisions in both the United States and the Soviet Union. The 1930’s science community abandoned their working agreement for international cooperation due to a distrusting environment between nations. Evidence reveals that physicist’ actions following the discovery of fission put the United States in a position to use secret knowledge of the atomic bomb in a manner that adversely affected their already loose relationship with the Soviet Union. Conclusion are defended through the use of primary sources that include memoirs, speeches, and letters from leading physicists, government leaders, and directors of the Manhattan Project. However, much of the Soviet Union’s primary sources are inaccessible; requiring a reliance on a series of trusted secondary sources.
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The Power of Fission: How the Discovery of Fission Adversely Affected US/Soviet Relations
In 1940 FDR told the leading Western scientists that they were not responsible for the way science was being used to perpetuate oppressive world domination. He went on to convince them that while they could not trust Hitler to use their knowledge towards positive means, they could trust the United States to forward the values of world peace.
In light of the events that followed from that speech in 1940 to the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, without informing the Soviet Union, this pivotal moment insights a series of questions concerning the ways in which the United States’ actions affected the opportunity for maintaining postwar peace with the Soviet Union. The events that led from the discovery of fission to the use of the atomic bomb can be analyzed through both the physicists’ experiences and government officials’ decisions in both the United States and the Soviet Union. The 1930’s science community abandoned their working agreement for international cooperation due to a distrusting environment between nations. Evidence reveals that physicist’ actions following the discovery of fission put the United States in a position to use secret knowledge of the atomic bomb in a manner that adversely affected their already loose relationship with the Soviet Union. Conclusion are defended through the use of primary sources that include memoirs, speeches, and letters from leading physicists, government leaders, and directors of the Manhattan Project. However, much of the Soviet Union’s primary sources are inaccessible; requiring a reliance on a series of trusted secondary sources.
Comments
Panel III of the 2012 Graduate History Conference features presentations and papers under the topic of "Contextualizing the Present."
Kathy Shinnick's presentation is the second presentation in this panel.