tudents read Einstein’s letter to President Roosevelt, and draft their own response from Roosevelt, in order to understand the cooperation between scientists and the government during the Manhattan Project.
- Writing materials
- Albert Einstein’s letter to FDR
Albert Einstein’s letter to President Franklin Roosevelt was instrumental in encouraging FDR to begin preparations for the Manhattan Project.
Students read the letter, consult Internet sources, and draft a response from FDR to Einstein depicting every measure that the United States plans to take in organizing the massive project. The letter should allude to potential difficulties with running an atomic research program without public scrutiny and assembling an alliance of industry, scientists and civilian workers without arousing Congressional suspicion.