History of the Atomic Bomb Prof. Bruce J. Hunt HIS 329P — 39470 office: GAR 2.106 Fall 2017 — MWF 11:00–12:00 hours: MW 1:30–2:30, W 4:00-4:30 GAR 0.128 [email protected]

In this course, we will examine the history of nuclear weapons from the discovery of fission in December 1938 to the Oppenheimer security hearings of 1954, with a brief look at more recent events. Note that the course carries an Ethics and Leadership Flag as well as a Writing Flag; we will emphasize clear thinking and clear writing about ethical and historical issues.

Course grades will be +/– and will be based on two 2–3 page response essays (10% each); a 3–4 page draft (10%) and a 10–12 page main paper (40%) on the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japanese cities; a 3–4 page paper on the Oppenheimer security case (15%); and class participation (15%).

Supplementary course materials and information on course policies will be posted on Canvas.

Books: Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb (1986), John Hersey, Hiroshima (1946), Michael J. Hogan (ed.), Hiroshima in History and Memory (1996), Herbert York, The Advisors: Oppenheimer, Teller, and the Superbomb (1976/1989), Richard Polenberg (ed.), In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2001), plus additional readings to be posted on Canvas.

Aug. 30 Introduction; aims and structure of the course. Sept. 1 Atomic physics in Europe and America, 1896–1938. (Rhodes, 198–275)

Sept. 6 How to make an atomic bomb: U-235 and Pu-239 Sept. 8 Getting the government interested; Frisch-Peierls and the British MAUD Report. (Rhodes, 279–383; Canvas readings 1: Frisch-Peierls Memo, and 2: MAUD Report)

Sept. 11 Organizing science for war: Bush and Conant; radar and rockets. Sept. 13 The German Uranium Project. Sept. 15 Aerial bombing in WWII; the question of chemical weapons. (Rhodes, 383–428; Canvas reading 3: “Rules of Warfare,” and 4: Buderi)

Sept. 18 —Discussion: Should we try to make an atomic bomb? first response essay due (10%) Sept. 20 The Chicago Met Lab and Fermi’s pile. Setp. 22 General Groves and the Manhattan Project; Robert Oppenheimer and the Los Alamos lab. (Rhodes, 428–485; Polenberg, 10–23)

Sept. 25 Building Oak Ridge and Hanford. Sept. 27 The implosion crisis; the state of the bomb project in mid-1944. Sept. 29 Getting started on your main papers: assembling sources and framing an argument. (Rhodes, 486–614)

Oct. 2 The state of the war in the spring and summer of 1945. Oct. 4 Truman, Stimson, and Byrnes. Oct. 6 Advice and alternatives: the Interim Committee and the Franck Report. (Rhodes, 617–51) Oct. 9 The Potsdam summit meeting; draft papers due (5%). Oct. 11 Small group discussions of draft papers. Oct. 13 The Trinity test: 16 July 1945. (Rhodes, 651–99; Canvas reading 5: Truman at Potsdam)

Oct. 16 The raids on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the leaders in Tokyo, July–August 1945. Oct. 18 On the ground in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Oct. 20 Excerpts from the BBC film “Hiroshima.” (Rhodes, 699–747; Canvas readings 6: US News, 7: Walker, 8: Karl Compton, and 9: Stimson)

Oct. 23 Discussion: the decision to drop the bombs; main paper due (40%). Oct. 25 Discussion—continued. Oct. 27 Public reactions to the atomic bombings; John Hersey’s Hiroshima. (Rhodes, 749–64; Hersey, all; Hogan, 11–142)

Oct. 30 The scientists’ movement; shaping public attitudes toward nuclear weapons. Nov. 1 Short film: “Atomic Power” (1946); discussion. Nov. 3 Atomic spies and the Soviet atomic bomb. (Canvas reading 10: Hershberg)

Nov. 6 The GAC Report and the H-bomb fight. Nov. 8 Teller–Ulam: how to make a hydrogen bomb. Nov. 10 — to be announced — (Rhodes, 764–88; York, 1–110, 153–81)

Nov. 13 Oppenheimer accused: the Oppenheimer security hearings. Nov. 15 Excerpts from the film “The Day After Trinity” (1981). Nov. 17 Discussion: the Oppenheimer case and the security system; Oppenheimer paper due (15%). (Polenberg, xv–xxxii, 3–10, 23–397; York, 111–152)

Nov. 20 Fear and survival: short films “Duck and Cover” (1952) and “Target: Austin” (1960).

Nov. 27 Bombers, missiles, and warheads: nuclear weapons in the Cold War. Nov. 29 To the brink: the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). Dec. 1 Nuclear weapons in popular culture; excerpts from the film “Dr. Strangelove” (1964). (Canvas reading 11: DeGroot)

Dec. 4 Nuclear weapons since the Cold War. Dec. 6 Atomic bombs and modern memory: the Enola Gay controversy (1994–95). Dec. 8 Finger on the button: nuclear weapons and the American presidency. (Hogan, 187–232; Canvas readings 12: Wills, and 13: Graff.)

Dec. 11 Closing discussion; course evaluation; second response essay due (10%).

Academic integrity: All students will be expected to live up to the highest standards of academic integrity, and in particular to observe the policies on plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and related matters laid out in the section on “Scholastic Dishonesty” found under the “UT Policies” link on the course Canvas page.

Religious holy days: If a religious holy day will force you to miss a class or exam, notify Prof. Hunt at least two weeks in advance. He will give you an opportunity to make up the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Students with disabilities: On request, UT provides appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Contact Services for Students with Disabilities at [email protected] or 512–471–6259.