President Roosevelt responded to Einstein’s letter by authorizing $6,000 in funding for experiments to create a nuclear chain reaction. Why would Roosevelt have taken this course of action?

Einstein’s letter warned Roosevelt that nuclear research might lead to a powerful new weapon and that Germany could be pursuing it. Roosevelt authorized funding so the United States could investigate the possibility rather than risk falling behind a potential enemy in military strength. The best choice is “Roosevelt did not want the United States to fall behind in military strength.”

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