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In what ways did the atomic bomb change the world?

Lesson Author
Adams, Mark
Course(s)
American History
Required Time Frame
2 class periods
Subject(s)
World War II
Grade Level(s)
9
10
11
12
Lesson Abstract
Students will look at how the atomic bomb changed the world politically, socially, technologically and economically.
Description

Students can be broken into different groups to examine each area or rotate through each group to consider all of the different aspects. (Political, economic, social, and technology)

 

Rationale (why are you doing this?)

Students will have the opportunity to examine the consequences of the atomic bomb through a variety of perspectives.

Lesson Objectives - the student will

Examine the consequences of the atomic bomb through a variety of perspectives

Examine and analyze primary and secondary sources

Determine the most important consequences of the atomic bomb

District, state, or national performance and knowledge standards/goals/skills met

1.1 The student will recognize and evaluate significant choices and consequences that have impacted our lives and futures.

1.2 The student will analyze the context and draw conclusions about choices and consequences.

1.3 The student will investigate and connect examples of choices and consequences with contemporary issues.

1.4 The student will use their understanding of choices and consequences to make a claim or advance a thesis using evidence and argument. 

Primary sources needed (document, photograph, artifact, diary or letter, audio or visual recording, etc.) needed

Resources

Science and technology

Science behind the bomb
https://atomicarchive.com/science/fission/index.html
Science of the atomic bomb

https://www.atomicheritage.org/educational-resources/atom-lesson-plan
(Lesson on the science of the atom)

Background from Department of Energy
Manhattan Project: A Miniature Solar System, 1890s-1919 (osti.gov)

Robert Oppenheimer article from 1949
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1949/02/the-open-mind/305431/


Politics

Primary resources on the decision to drop the bomb

https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/hiroshima-nagasaki-75

(Sources from the National Archives)

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/online-collections/decision-to-drop-atomic-bomb

(Truman Library)

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/online-collections/decision-to-drop-atomic-bomb?section=3
(Truman Library photographs)
 

Docs teach
https://www.docsteach.org/documents?filter_searchterm=%22atomic+bomb%22&filterEras=&filterDocTypes=&filter_order=&filter_order_Dir=&rt=a8mrsQgvy4zM&reset=1

 

Color image of HIroshima after the bombing
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/148728174

Secondary sources on the use of the bomb

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/presidents-endwar/
(Video from PBS)


https://www.historyonthenet.com/decision-use-atomic-bomb-arguments-support (in support)
https://www.historycrunch.com/reasons-in-favor-of-the-atomic-bombing-of-japan.html#/

https://www.historyonthenet.com/reasons-against-dropping-the-atomic-bomb (against)
https://www.warbirdforum.com/dropbomb.htm (Richard Frank article)


Social and cultural

Paper crane information
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2018/08/01/issues/60-years-sadakos-death-story-behind-hiroshimas-paper-cranes-still-unfolding/

 

https://www.origami-resource-center.com/sadako.html


https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2015/08/28/how-paper-cranes-became-a-symbol-of-healing-in-japan/


Cultural effect of the bomb
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150702-how-the-bomb-changed-everything
 

https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/atomic-culture

https://theconversation.com/world-politics-explainer-the-atomic-bombings-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-100452

https://qz.com/842067/the-apocalyptic-echoes-of-the-atomic-bomb-in-japans-anime-and-manga/

 

Eyewitness accounts from various perspectives

Japanese survivor testimony
https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/disarmament/arms/testimony_of_hibakusha/
https://time.com/after-the-bomb/


Manhattan project witnesses
https://www.atomicheritage.org/article/manhattan-project-veterans-bombing-hiroshima
https://www.manhattanprojectvoices.org/oral-histories

509th composite group testimony
https://www.manhattanprojectvoices.org/collections/509th-composite-group-joseph-papalia



Long term effects on Japan
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/how-atomic-bomb-survivors-have-transformed-our-understanding-radiation-s-impacts

https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2017/aug/06/life-after-the-bomb-exploring-the-psychogeography-of-hiroshima


Economics
https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a04003/#:~:text=Japan's%20Postwar%20Miracle&text=The%20devastated%20Japanese%20economy%20rose,era%20of%20rapid%20growth%20era.
 

https://hbr.org/1998/01/reinterpreting-the-japanese-economic-miracle

http://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat24/sub155/item2800.html


https://time.com/5358113/hiroshima-nagasaki-history-reconciliation/


https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/japan-reconstruction


A present day view
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/06/hiroshima-effect-anniversary-atomic-bomb-75-years/

Fully describe the activity or assignment in detail. What will both the teacher and the students do?

Divide the class into groups to examine the political, technology, economic and social resources.

 

Have students complete the two graphic organizers below to complete their project.

Graphic organizers

Positive long-term effects

Negative long-term effects
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



 

 

 

Assessment: fully explain the assessment method in detail or create and attach a scoring guide

 Break down the assessment into four parts. 

Technology investigation (25%)
Economic investigation (25%)
Political investigation (25%)
Social/cultural investigation (25%)

Grade the students' graphic organizers for each area the students have researched.