Research On The Evolution And Effect Of The U.S.Atomic Energy Act During The Early Postwar Period(1945-1956)

This dissertation focuses on the background and the evolution of the American atomic energy acts in the early postwar period,especially the McMahon Act signed by Harry S.Truman and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 approved by Dwight Eisenhower.Rather than concentrating on the nuclear strategy or the international nuclear nonproliferation policy of one single government in American history,this paper tries to find the inner logic of the differences between the two acts and the evolution of the American nuclear policies during this time.The body of this dissertation is divided into four chapters.Chapter one introduces the background of the atomic energy act in the early postwar period.The new discoveries in nuclear physics are theoretical basis of atomic of the invention of the nuclear weapons.During World War ?.the U.S.and the U.K jointly signed "Quebec Treaty" and negotiated for cooperating in nuclear research confidentially.Meanwhile,the U.S.-Soviet Alliance broke down after the end of World War ? and the Cold War began soon.Chapter two details the evolvement of the American atomic energy acts."The Baruch Plan",which sought to outlaw nuclear weapons and internationalize the use of nuclear energy,ended in failure because of strongly opposition from Soviet.This accelerated the process of domestic legislation in America.The enactment of the McMahon Act in 1946 established the nuclear secrecy policy in Truman Administration.When president Eisenhower came into power,he considered the revision of the act and then passed the Atomic Energy Act of 1954,which change the nuclear policy into cooperation rather than keeping secret.Chapter three analyses the reasons why the McMahon Act need to be revised.First of all,the U.S.could no longer monopolize nuclear weapons due to the successful nuclear text in Soviet and England.Secondly,the adjustment of American National Security Policy and the "Atomic for Peace"proposed by Eisenhower needed efficient legal support.What's more,the U.S.intended to ease the tense relationship with its partners is also the important driving factor to the revision of the act.Chapter 4 demonstrates the effects of the Atomic Energy Act in the early postwar period.It established the overall legal framework for the development of atomic energy in the United States and the U.S.began to expand and dominate the nuclear market.Further more,the law promoted the establishment of the institutions at home and abroad such as the AEC and the IAEA.Meanwhile,it provided a legal basis for the nuclear non-proliferation policy.But it is undeniable that the unstable factors affecting world peace are also increasing objectively.