Szilard petition

E96397

The Szilard petition was a 1945 document signed by Manhattan Project scientists urging the U.S. government to demonstrate the atomic bomb’s power before using it on Japanese cities, reflecting early ethical concerns about nuclear weapons.

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All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Szilard petition canonical 1
Szilárd petition 1

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Manhattan Project document
anti-nuclear weapons document
historical document
petition
addressedTo President Harry S. Truman
surface form: Harry S. Truman

President of the United States
archivedAt Library of Congress
National Archives and Records Administration
surface form: U.S. National Archives
callsFor avoidance of surprise nuclear attack on cities
consideration of moral responsibility
non-combat demonstration of the atomic bomb
warning to Japan before atomic bomb use
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
createdAt Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory
surface form: Metallurgical Laboratory

University of Chicago
date 1945-07-03
1945-07-17
expressesConcernAbout future of humanity under nuclear weapons
killing of civilians
moral precedent of first atomic bomb use
handledBy Leslie R. Groves Jr.
surface form: General Leslie Groves

Secretary of State James F. Byrnes
surface form: James F. Byrnes
hasAlternativeName A Petition to the President of the United States
Szilard petition
surface form: Szilárd petition
hasAuthor Leo Szilard
surface form: Leó Szilárd
hasFullTextAvailableAt Atomic Heritage Foundation website
U.S. National Archives website
historicalSignificance early ethical critique of nuclear weapons use
early organized protest by nuclear scientists
influenced debates on scientists' social responsibility
later anti-nuclear movements
language English
numberOfSignatories 70
opposes unannounced atomic bombing of Japanese cities
placeOfOrigin Chicago, Illinois, United States
surface form: Chicago, Illinois
recipientDecision not shown to President Truman before Hiroshima bombing
relatedTo Hiroshima
Manhattan Project
Nagasaki
World War II
atomic bomb
nuclear weapons ethics
signedBy Leo Szilard
surface form: Leó Szilárd

Manhattan Project scientists
scientists at the Metallurgical Laboratory
topic civilian casualties
demonstration of atomic bomb
international control of nuclear weapons
use of atomic bombs against Japan
year 1945

Referenced by (2)

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Leo Szilard organized Szilard petition
Szilard petition hasAlternativeName Szilard petition
this entity surface form: Szilárd petition