Was it worth it? August 6, 1945 defines a pivotal moment in world history. At 8:15 am, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, capital of Hiroshima Prefecture. Hiroshima is known worldwide as the first (and only) city decimated by a nuclear weapon in wartime. The bombing of Hiroshima was one of the most horrific events ever to happen in the world. The damage it caused, along with the implications that followed, explain why it is so well known, even today. The effects of Hiroshima continue to shape the way we think about wars and bombings. It was also one of the most important turning points of World War II because it forced the Japanese to surrender. The bomb was designed by a group of scientists in what became known as the Manhattan Project. The Atomic Bomb. The new American weapon had been developed by the top-secret Manhattan Project. This effort was led by a group of scientists who had been working together to create an atomic bomb since 1942. Many European scientists took part in this project. In 1933, physicist Albert Einstein moved from Germany to the United States. A large group of Europeans followed Einstein's example and also fled to the United States. Enrico Fermi was an Italian physicist who fled to the United States in 1938. He convinced the famous Einstein to warn the United States government about research conducted by German scientists. In August 1939 Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt. He warned that “a single bomb of this type, carried by a boat and detonated in a port, could well destroy the entire port, together with some of the surrounding territory.” He was describing an atomic bomb... in the middle of a sheet of paper... 0,000 Japanese were killed. The United States thought that since the bombs were created, we had every right to use them. Since the United States was engaged in war with Japan, the time was perfect to test the bomb and understand its effectiveness. Ultimately, and probably caused by an emotional response, was to seek revenge for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Revenge is part of human nature. Some argue that the bombing of Hiroshima was the only way the United States would get its just revenge for what the Japanese had done years earlier at Pearl Harbor. Japan had destroyed the main naval base and major ships of the United States. Without them, the United States was vulnerable. As the Pacific War continued, the United States knew it was at risk and didn't want anything to happen again. According to this line of reasoning, the bombing was a direct response to Pearl Harbor and not many Americans disagreed with it..