What was the primary objective of the Manhattan Project during World War II?

The primary objective of the Manhattan Project during World War II was to develop an atomic bomb. This highly classified project was initiated in response to fears that Nazi Germany was working on similar nuclear weapon capabilities. The U.S. government assembled a team of some of the most brilliant scientists, including figures like J. Robert Oppenheimer, to lead this effort.

The project involved extensive research into nuclear fission and the design of bomb mechanisms, ultimately leading to the creation of two types of atomic bombs: one using uranium-235 and the other using plutonium. The successful detonation of these bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 played a crucial role in bringing about the end of the war, demonstrating the devastating power of nuclear weapons and shifting the dynamics of international military strategy in the years that followed. This focus on atomic weaponry marked a significant turning point in warfare and global politics.