Albert Einstein's Use Of Uranium Bombs

On August 2nd of 1939, Famous scientist Albert Einstein sent a letter to the President of the United States, F.D. Roosevelt, regarding his thoughts on uranium and how America could use it for wartime and to tip the scale. Einstein believes the uranium can be used in bombs to take down ports and waterside targets, stating that the bombs would be too heavy for air travel. Einstein hopes to get the president onboard with his idea because of the prowess the president has to convince higher authority like congress and various government departments. Although he’s confident in the uranium's power and pros, einstein also notices the cons of the element as well.

In the letter, Albert Einstein states, “some recent work by E. Fermi and L. Szilard, which has been communicated to me in manuscript, leads me to expect that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of energy in the immediate future.” Einstein is stating that he has been working with two other scientists to find other sources of energy and they have found that the element, uranium, can be a groundbreaking

He shows this when he states, “However, such bombs might very well prove too heavy for transportation by air.” Einstein is stating that while a uranium bomb is powerful, it is also very heavy and that any air transportation would not be able to carry it over enemy territory. Einstein also states, “ The United States has only very poor ores of uranium in moderate quantities. There is some good ore in Canada and former Czechoslovakia, while the most important source of uranium is in the Belgian Congo.” Einstein is stating that while America does have uranium ores, they are very poor is quality and quantity and that the better ore is only found outside the country and even outside the entire continent making it difficult for the United States to get good