State Historical Society of Iowa

Petition from Leo Szilard and Other Scientists to President Harry S. Truman, July 17, 1945

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Courtesy of National Archives, "Petition from Leo Szilard and Other Scientists to President Harry S. Truman," 17 July 1945

Description

This letter was sent to President Harry Truman by some scientists involved in the Manhattan Project following the end of the war in Europe. In the letter, the scientists outline the responsibility and concerns regarding the United States having and using atomic technology as offensive military action.

Transcript of Petition from Leo Szilard and Other Scientists to President Harry S. Truman

Source Dependent Questions

  • What conditions did the scientists feel needed to be present to consider dropping the atomic bomb?
  • Should those conditions be met, what else did the scientists ask President Truman to consider? What "moral responsibilities" needed to be taken into consideration?
  • What similarities and differences can be found between the perspective of the scientists and that of General Leslie Groves when it came to the decision to drop atomic bombs? Given their different roles and perspectives in the war, why do you think those differences existed?

Citation Information

"Petition from Leo Szilard and Other Scientists to President Harry S. Truman," 17 July 1945. Courtesy of National Archives Courtesy of Library of Congress