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Nuclear Dilemmas
for prof. schell's class spring 2010
15
History
Undergraduate 2
05/05/2010

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Cards

Term
Leo Szilard
Definition
One of the main guys who helped build the atomic bomb. Was against using the bomb (just wanted it to be used as a threat)
Term
Fission
Definition
these are a bombs: neutrons fired at uranium create a chain reaction
Term
Fusion
Definition
h hombs: hydrogen fuses together and kicks out a neutron at high velocity, resulting in greater chain reactions.
Term
Henry Stimson
Definition
Secretary of war. formed the interim committee, wanted the bomb to be dropped. Was a fan of more disclosure to other countries
Term
Interim Committee
Definition
committee whose purpose was to discuss the consequences of dropping the bomb (but assumed that the bomb WAS going to be dropped)
Term
Target committee
Definition
discussed where bombs would be dropped for optimal strategic effects.
Term
Robert Oppenheimer
Definition
believed nuclear arms could only be controlled through an international committee. Influenced the Acheson Lilienthal Report. Later regretted after the bomb was dropped
Term
Acheson- lillenthal report
Definition
concluded that all fissile materials should be owned by an international agency which would then give the materials in small amounts to countries. Rejected by USSR (one clause was that they NOT produce any nuclear weapons)
Term
Baruch Plan
Definition
based on Acheson-lillenthal (modified for UN proposal), it was a plan to prevent proliferation. main points were to 1) stop countries from building any bombs 2) US would fork over all nbombs to UN. USSR rejected it, saying UN was dominated by US anyways.
Term
Potsdam Declaration
Definition
peace treaty for Japan that vaguely referenced keeping the emperor in throne. USSR not invited to sign the treaty.
Term
James Byrnes
Definition
Secretary of State, wanted to bomb japan (?)
Term
May-Johnson Bill
Definition
Bill drafted to put all atomic research under military control
Term
Quemoy and Matsu
Definition
China backed down agression after US used nbombs
Term
IAEA
Definition
sought to promote peaceful use of nukes
Term
Potsdam Conference
Definition
US, SU, and UK met to discuss how to deal with defeated germany as well as Japan. purposely set to to a date where US had successfully tested the first bomb, trinity
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