Letter to Truman about the Manhattan Project

This activity is appropriate as an introduction to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the decision that Truman faced during World War II. For grades 7-12. Approximate time needed is 20 minutes.

It can be done individually, in pairs, or as a full class. Direct students to begin by taking a minute to examine the document, then responding to the questions. Ask students to keep their ideas to themselves as they work, and to save their guesses for a class discussion.

After students have answered all of the analysis questions, ask them to share their answers and brainstorm the answer to the question: What is the Highly Secret Matter? Make sure that they point out specific evidence from the document to support their answers before revealing the correct response.

Prompt students to reflect on the fact that this project was so secret that the new President did not know about it. Ask them if they think that the Vice President (Truman before he became President) should have known about it, and what they think it means that so few people knew. Discuss the role of the commander in chief and the important — and ultimately controversial — decision Truman faced over whether to use nuclear weapons to end WWII.