1. Necessary Evil? A play about the United States and the decision to drop the atomic bomb.

2. World War Two – July, 1945 The destruction of Nazi Germany by the Allied forces ended the fighting in Europe. In the Pacific, Japan was desperately fighting a losing battle against America and her allies. At Alamogordo, New Mexico, a new and secret weapon was about to be tested in the desert.

3. Height of Japanese expansion, 1943

4. Enola Gay Crew

6. The White House Press Room, April 12, 1945

7. Los Alamos, New Mexico (site of Trinity Test) Spring, 1945

9. When he departed on July 7 th, Truman had come to believe that the results of the test at Alamogordo would determine how he could accomplish that goal. He had no intention of employing the bomb as an instrument of diplomacy during the conference, but a successful test would assure him that he need make no politically embarrassing concessions.

10. REFERENCES: Slide 3: The Atomic Bomb Google Earth Project, Teaching American History Project, Portland State University (available for download at http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IMS/currentprojects/TAHv3/Atomic_Bomb.html). Slide 4: Enola Gay Crew (http://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/paul_tibbets/enola_gay_crew_3.jpg). Slide 5&8: Interior of the Enola Gay with Crew (http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/photos/b-29/250px-040315-F-9999G-003.jpg). Slide 6: White House Press Room, April 1945 (http://www.bremenbaseball.com/whm/west-wing/press-offices/press-offices-1945- japan-surrender.jpg). Slide 7: Los Alamos, New Mexico (http://www.life.com/image/72385149). Slide 9: Original footage of the Enola Gay and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, YouTube Video (22 seconds) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8uGiN_5wLg&feature=player_embedded)