BERTRAND RUSSELL
Bertrand Russell was born on May 18, 1872 in the United Kingdom and became a skillful writer in political theory and philosophy. Notably, Russell was also a devoted pacifist, critical of nuclear weapons throughout his career.
AS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AROSE, BERTRAND RUSSELL BECAME INCREASINGLY OUTSPOKEN AGAINST NUCLEAR WARFARE.
ORGANIZING A MANIFESTO
As the world moved closer towards global catastrophe, Bertrand Russell saw it necessary to create an official declaration against nuclear weapons. In 1955, Russell reached out to eleven qualified scientists, the most notable being Albert Einstein, and united their calls for nuclear disarmament under a single document.
PHOTOGRAPH OF EINSTEIN'S PHYSICAL LETTER SENT TO RUSSELL EXPRESSING HIS APPROVAL, 1955. COURTESY OF McMASTER UNIVERSITY
THE FINAL PAGE OF THE RUSSELL-EINSTEIN MANIFESTO, INCLUDING THE SIGNATURES OF ALL ELEVEN SCIENTISTS WHO SUPPORTED IT, 1955. COURTESY OF OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
A LEGITIMATE AND WELL-FOUNDED DECLARATION FOR ANTI-NUCLEAR POLICY WAS IN THE MAKING, SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POWERFUL MOVEMENT TOWARDS INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY TO END THE EXISTENCE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
THE RUSSELL-EINSTEIN MANIFESTO
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY 2022: DEBATE AND DIPLOMACY
EVAN McCRACKIN, REN GIUSTI, AND JUSTIN YANG