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The Manhattan Project: Building the First Atomic Bomb

By: Danny Bird
Originally Published in  HistoryExtra

In a race against Nazi Germany, U.S. scientists and engineers worked on a secret project that changed warfare forever by developing the world’s first nuclear weapon.

The article "The Manhattan Project: Building the First Atomic Bomb" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains how a top-secret U.S. military project developed the world’s first atomic bomb during World War II. It covers the project's origins, key figures like J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that marked the start of the Atomic Age.
Student Article Info

BBC's HistoryExtra is devoted to both British and world history and aimed at readers of all levels of knowledge and interest. Learn more about subscriptions here.

Grades:
6-89-12
Subject:
Social Studies
Topic:
History
Keywords
atomic bombnuclear fissionHiroshimaManhattan ProjectOppenheimerWorld War IIuraniumplutoniumCold War
Illustration of a mushroom cloud rising from the ground, covered with mathematical formulas
© Getty

Most passages are available in three different versions: Level 1 (Grade 3-5), Level 2 (Grade 6-8), and Level 3 (Grade 9-12). Some more complex texts are available only in Level 2 and Level 3. Use the versions that are most appropriate for the students in your class.

Note: The BBC Learning Hub Editorial Team made use of AI tools to create multiple versions of this article, each tailored to different student reading levels. Every version undergoes a thorough review by our BBC Learning editors to ensure accuracy, quality, and appropriateness.

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Level 2 Reading Passage
Grades: 6-8Lexile Level: 800-1000L
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Level 3 Reading Passage
Grades: 9-12Lexile Level: 1000–1300L
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The article ""Oppenheimer: The Mind Behind the Atomic Bomb and the Moral Fallout That Followed" from BBC's HistoryExtra follows J. Robert Oppenheimer's pivotal role in developing the atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project, his motivations, political associations, and the psychological toll of unleashing such a destructive force.