Atomic Bomb Unit Assessment

Purpose:
This assignment is designed to help students link the development of nuclear technology with the
present day question of nuclear expansion.

Situation:
The year is 1950; it’s been five years since World War II ended and for the most part
American post war policy has centered on Europe. A year ago, the Soviet Union tested their first
atomic bomb and now you find yourself watching as the United States shrinks in fear and anti-
communist propaganda increases everywhere you turn.
In January you were thrilled to find out that you had gotten a job as a Nuclear Policy
Advisor working at the United Nations. Finally an opportunity to change the world the way you
always promised your parents that you would. Everything seemed to be going well until June
when North Korea invaded the South in an attempt to reunify the country under communist
control.
You watched as Truman convinced the U.N. Security Council to authorize use of force to
repel the invasion. With both communist countries (the Soviet Union and China) either unable or
unwilling to attend, the Council allowed him to proceed.
In September General Douglas MacArthur launched a counterattack and managed to
retake most of the peninsula. But his advance was thwarted a month later when Chinese troops
intervened.
This is where you come in. You have just received word that MacArthur is demanding
the right to push north again and potentially invade China. He also wants permission to use
nuclear weapons against China and North Korea if necessary. President Truman is waffling on
what to do and has requested the opinion of the United Nations. They in turn have turned to you,
giving you far less time than you would have liked to prepare a speech that helps the Security
Council to understand the climate of the Korean War and the potential repercussions of the use
of nuclear weapons.
You’ve been given access to whatever documents you need, but “with great power comes
great responsibility.” The fate of the Korean War and potentially the world rests in your hands
and your ability to write a speech. What will you tell the Security Council?

Assessment:
Write a speech that you will present to the United Nations Security Council (aka the
class). This speech should utilize both primary and secondary sources (some of which have been
provided in the links below) and be 5-7 minutes in length. You must use at least 4 sources (2 of
which need to be primary) but are not limited to that amount. Your speech should also include
the following:
 What Was
o Analyze the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Be
sure to address pros/cons. What, if any, repercussions were there?
 What Is
o Since the end of World War II the world has split between Communists and not-
Communists. How does this impact the cultures and climate of countries around
 the world and their relationships with one another (focusing on the United States,
the Soviet Union, and Korea)?
 What Will Be
o Predict what could happen if nuclear weapons are used on China to end the
Korean War. What are the pros/cons?

Resources:
 The Atomic Bomb and The End of World War II
o This website has a brief description of the nuclear project and a multitude of
primary sources involving the creating and dropping of the atomic bomb.
o President Truman Learns About the Manhattan Project
 Memorandum For the Secretary of War
 Memorandum Discussed with the President
 Nuclear Waste
o This PowerPoint provides a timeline of U.S. nuclear activity and describes the
nuclear power process and the effects and hopes for nuclear waste.
 Time Lapse of Every Nuclear Explosion Since 1945
 Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the News
o This website has newspaper articles and images that discuss the dropping of the
atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.