...of the atom bomb. HARRY S TRUMAN & THE DECISION TO ORDER THE DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB Boom! Boom! Seventy thousands Japanese citizens were perished instantly after the first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Japanese still refused to surrender to Allied forces. On August 9, 1945, with the dropping of the second atomic bomb in Nagasaki, where eighty thousands people were vaporized, Japanese surrendered unconditionally and the World War II ended (“The Decision to Drop the Bomb” 5-6). But was it a right decision of Harry S Truman to end the war with two atomic bombs? Becoming the president of the United States on April 12, 1945 upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S Truman faced with a decision of unprecedented gravity in his life: dropping the atomic bombs in Japan to end the World War II. It was just a matter of opinion whether his decision was right or wrong. But at the time the bombs were dropped, most Americans as wells as Allied forces accepted President Truman’s decision and agreed that the atomic bombs were necessary to end the war quickly before the disastrous invasion of the Japanese mainland could occur. But after that, many people started questioning about President Truman’s decision to order the dropping of the atomic bombs. They believed that dropping two atomic bombs to destroy two cities of Japan helped America generally and President Truman specifically accomplishing several things. Most obviously, it was a way of Americans...
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...Hiroshima and Nagasaki Takesha McCaleb Mr. Spitler Was the Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary to end the war? As I did my research on this topic I found out that some found it necessary while others didn’t. During the course of this research paper I will be discussing why the atomic bomb was dropped. The effects right after the bomb was dropped for the Japanese and Americans also the after effects such as genetic effects. I will also touch on how Americans feel about the bomb more than fifty years later and what lessons were learned throughout all of this. Hiroshima was founded in 1589, on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea, and became a major urban centre during the Meiji period. The city is located on the broad, flat delta of the Ota River, which has 7 channel outlets dividing the city into six islands which project into Hiroshima Bay. The city is almost entirely flat and only slightly above sea level; to the northwest and northeast of the city, some hills rise to 700 feet. Hiroshima was founded by Mori Motonari as his capital. About a half century later, after the Battle of Sekigahara, his grandson and the leader of the West Army Mori Terumoto lost the battle. Finally Asano was appointed the daimyo of this area and Hiroshima served as the capital of Hiroshima Han during the Edo period. After the Han was abolished the city became the capital of Hiroshima prefecture. During the First Sino-Japanese War, Hiroshima emerged as a major supply and...
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...When people hear the words “atomic bomb”, the first thing that most likely comes to mind is the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. This was a crucial part of World War Two, as this was the breaking point for Japan. There is much discussion about if Japan should have surrendered right after the bombings, or if discussing it and surrendering a few weeks later as they did was the best plan. As there is much discussion about this aspect of the bombings, there is also much discussion about if the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary for Japan to surrender. There is evidence to prove that the Japanese government believed that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary for Japan’s quick surrender, however, Japanese citizens and the United States believed it was unnecessary. Once the war had finally come to an...
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...The Atomic Bomb: A Necessity or a Desire Tanmay Bhanushali Year 10 Historical Paper “Great power imposes the obligation of exercising restraint” Leo Szilard - Hungarian-born Physicist and main scientist to oppose the atomic Bombings This was spoken in an interview titled “President Truman did not Understand”. This was between a US news reporter and Leo Szilard the key figure among the scientists opposing the use of the bomb. The interview was in August 15, 1960. Why was their so fierce Opposition? In what Way did Truman Not Understand? These answers lie in the depths of the controversy about the Atomic Bomb. Introduction The atomic bomb was a topic of major controversy but the main debate was about the necessity of the atomic bomb. Many say that the atomic bomb was dropped because it would save millions of American lives. However at that period the Japanese were also at the point of surrendering. Huge amounts of incendiary bombs were used in large-scale cities against japan. Many of the scientists in the Manhattan Project were disturbed about it. The incendiary bombs reduced much morale from the Japanese army and crippled the will power. However this small cripple made Japan even angrier because these incendiary bombs were used on innocent civilians and not the Japanese army. Many think that it was necessary to use the Atomic Bombs because Japan attacked America first and not the other way around. It is a fact that when Hitler attacked...
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...I’ve heard you ordered the use of the atomic bombs against Japan. After you’ve found out the Manhattan project had been successful, I know you had to make a decision to move forward with it or not. At first you and the Allies put out a demand for an immediate unconditional surrender, but Japan had refused. So since Japan had refused, you made a hard decision to drop the atomic bomb and put an end to the long four years of war with Japan. I understand why you strongly want to drop the bomb; however, for my sincere advice to you, I strongly suggest you don’t. Dropping to atomic bomb on Japan can lead to many disadvantages. For instance, when other countries realize that America had help this type of power, they will began the race to develop their own. Thousands of innocent Japanese people will die from the impact of this bomb and millions more will be affected by the residual radiation. Japan will be close to surrender anyways, and dropping the bomb will definitely insult in a major way. Most of all, it will forever create a great amount of animosity and anger between the two nations, that will exist for many years to come. Overall, the way you are using the atomic bomb is not justified because along with many others, we believe such...
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...The Atomic Bomb WHEE! BOOM! Would you like it if your family was vaporized and your house was destroyed? Well, that`s what happened to thousands of people when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I do not think the dropping of the atomic bomb was justified, but it is a necessary evil. We should not have dropped the atomic bomb because it started the Arms race. Before, we dropped the atomic bomb nobody had nuclear weapons. Now the world has more than 30,000. In fact, several countries including France, China and North Korea have nuclear weapons. Now, nuclear weapons are thousands of times stronger. This means that, one extremely formidable nuclear weapon could destroy the whole state of Florida. It makes me believe, that we are never safe because anytime now we could we could be attacked by lethal nuclear weapons. However, the dropping of the atomic bomb was justified because the Japanese started the war by attacking Pearl Harbor. It makes me believe the atomic bomb was just defense. Think of it like this: if a school bully was about to punch you, would you block his punch or let him hit you. Obviously, you would block his punch. Furthermore, the Japanese killed 2,300 American soldiers at the naval base. The attack on Pearl Harbor took place on December 1, 1941 at 7:55 AM. The Japanese warships wrecked 8 battle crafts and 188 aircrafts. It was all because U.S created an embargo on Japan, making them lose access to fuel to continue the war in Asia. It...
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...perspective of Historian A is that she believed the atomic bomb designed by the United States was dropped on the Japanese with malicious intent. Historian A believes the Japanese wanted to surrender and the United States knew of their wish to surrender and chose to ignore it. The atomic bomb was essentially used as chess piece to bully Russia to do as the United States wished according to Historian A. The Japanese wished to surrender with only one condition; to keep their emperor in place. The United States wanted and unconditional surrender which caused the Japanese their lives. But the irony of it all was the United States let the Japanese keep the emperor in place after all. The main arguments, reasons, and evidence that support the perspective of Historian B was the dropping of the atomic bomb by the United States was a deadly but necessary evil. Historian B believes the Japanese said they wanted to surrender but in actuality was not. Historian B believes by dropping the bomb to shorten the war only saved more than the lives that was lost. Historian B believed the reports on sacrificing the Japanese as a scare tactic for the Russians is utterly false. The Japanese refused to surrender without condition after condition which could delay the war even further. Also, even after the first bomb was dropped the Japanese still refused to surrender unconditionally which cost their people even more lives. Historian B believes even after two bombs were dropped the Japanese still remained resistant...
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...The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a controversial decision made by the United States during the war. The decision to drop the bomb was made by President Truman and was a turning point American history. Despite the many disagreeing with the dropping of the atomic bomb it was a military necessity to win the war. The dropping of the bombs was a necessity because of Japan`s terrain, the amount of American lives that would be lost and their refusal to the ultimatum. Japan`s mountainous terrain would be very difficult for the United States to attack. In order for the United States to even come close to winning the war they would need amphibious vehicles to travel land and sea. As well as needing to be able to attack from all sides since Japan is an island. This tactic will put the US army at an offensive disadvantage. Also the Americans lack of knowledge of the terrain would also put them in a dangerous position (Document C). Therefore...
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...Hiroshima The bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th, 1945 was completely necessary. It efficiently ended the horrible World War II. Japan also needed to learn the error of their ways which started the whole Development of atomic weapons. It ended other conflicts with Japan. Dropping the bomb helped the Japans economy. Those are just some of the many reasons why it was right to bomb Japan. On August 9, 1945, President Harry Truman decided to drop and atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. A few days later, this resulted in Japan surrendering and World War II ending. So, the United States dropping the atomic bomb resulted in ending the war quickly and saving more lives. If we didn't drop those bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki an invasion would've been necessary and in result, more lives would've been lost. It was right for us to drop the bomb. The Japanese military was very powerful. Being that they rarely ever gave up. After Pearl Harbor, they had to be shown the mistake of their actions. After 2 atomic bombings, a bunch of conventional bomb droppings, and attacked by the Soviet Union, the government refused to surrender. The Japanese cabinet meet and agreed to surrender and World War II had finally ended. That shows that even through roughest t situation Japan has a really hard time giving up. The atomic bomb ended many conflicts with Japan. It also changed the technology of war making it more deadly. After we defeated Japan a democratic government was put there...
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...The dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan in the summer of 1945 changed the face of all mankind as we know. Even though it was only Japan getting hit with the bomb the entire world had their eyes opened to the infamous force that is nuclear power. The question people ask know is if dropping the bomb could have been avoidable. “When the scientists succeeded (completion of the 2 billion dollar secret atomic bomb), it became all but impossible to argue that their weapon, one that could prevent a bloody invasion, should be she.”( Lsaacson, Walter (2008, April 18). Why Did We Drop the Bomb. Time, 28-31). Another point that is made by the author in this Time article is, “If Truman had not used the Bomb, how could he have explained it to the families of the boys who would subsequently have died, be it 40,000 of them or a million.” ( Lsaacson, Walter (2008, April 18). Why Did We Drop the Bomb. Time, 28-31). The thesis of this article is why it was a good idea to drop the bomb. MTS- 2B- Understands major concepts, assumptions, debates, and principles; processes of inquiry; and theories that are central to the disciplines This article is obviously one side of the story so I would divide the class into a pro and con debate for dropping the bomb. Students would gather information the day prior to the debate. I believe that this article is very important because it points out many good reasons for the dropping of the bomb and I believe that for the pro side of a debate this article can...
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...destructive nature of the atomic bomb: We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire of destruction prophesied in the Euphrates Valley era, after Noah and his fabulous ark. Yet, despite his characterization of the bomb as the fire that would destroy the world, Truman goes on to state: This weapon is to be used against Japan between now and August 10 It seems to be the most terrible thing ever discovered, but it can be made the most useful. How could a Christian man justify using what seemed to be the very power of God against enemy cities with the intent to kill over 100,000 innocent civilians with the power from one atomic bomb (Goldfield, D., Abbot, C., Anderson, V., Argersinger, J., Argersinger,P, Barney, W, Weir, R. ,2010)?” “Truman’s argument for the use of atomic weapons against Japan focused on the fact that the targets were strictly military and no innocent civilians would be harmed: I have told the secretary of war, Mr. Stimson, to use it so that military objectives and soldiers are the target and not women and children. Truman further argues that the U.S., on account of its reputation as a leader of the civilized world, would never bomb a civilian city: Even if the Japs are savages, ruthless, merciless and fanatic, we as the leader of the world for the common welfare cannot drop this terrible bomb on the old capital or the new. Moreover, Truman stated that the U.S. had no moral reprehensibility for using atomic weapons against Japan...
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...“The atom bomb brought an empty victory to the Allied arms, but it resulted for the time being in destroying the soul of Japan.” –M.K Ghandi. On August 6, 1946, during World War 2, a U.S B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, the United States dropped a second explosive on Nagasaki. Because of the widespread damage and death the atomic bombs produced, using them wasn’t the ideal way to end the war or make Japan surrender. Due to the atomic bomb’s power, blasting Japan resulted in the unnecessary death of thousands of people and the ruination of the area. After the U.S bombarded Japan, there were “estimates of killed and wounded in Hiroshima (150,000) and Nagasaki (75,000)” (Hiroshima and Nagasaki Death Toll). In total, this adds up to...
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...Deepali Shinde Professor Kalra Academic Writing 101 19th September 2015. Was United Nations justified in dropping atomic bombs on Japan? World War II also known as The Second World War was a global war that was fought from 1939 to 1945 in Europe and Asia. The Second World War was debatably the most consequential period of the 20th century. World War II led to vital advancements in technology and set the base for post war social changes, that includes the end of colonialism by the Europeans, the civil rights movement in the United States., and the American Women’s Rights Movement in 1950s, in addition to the initiatives for research and exploration of outer space. The prime fighters were the Allied Nations that included Britain (leading combatant) and its Commonwealth nations, USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and America. The other combatants were the Axis nations that consisted of Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and their allies. The war was won by the Allied forces. One significant consequence of the Second World War was the Cold War between the two superpowers of the world, that is, United States of America and the Soviet Union (USSR). Japan is an island country located in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. Japan is a leading country when it comes to technological establishments but lacks natural resources, particularly in iron and oil. After the World War I the fascist governments increased their expenditure on military supplies and training. This...
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...Atomic Bomb Millions of people already dead and thousands more every day. The citizens beg for the conflict to stop but there is no end in sight. A single option seems to be able to end this conflict for good. In World War 2 the United States dropped the Atomic bomb on Japan in order to make them surrender and end the war. The dropping of the atomic bomb was justified in World War 2 because of Japan’s refusal to surrender, it saved U.S. lives and it demonstrated U.S. power. World War 2 was a dark time for all countries involved and especially the United States. Following the war in Europe ending with the death of Adolf Hitler, the war in the Pacific raged on. The United States were fighting with Japan to avenge the bombing of Pearl Harbor which started World War 2. Pearl Harbor was a surprise bombing of a United States naval base by Japan. It killed thousands of people and destroyed large amounts of naval equipment. As the United States fought Germany in Europe, the conflict with Japan was on the backburner. Now with the war in Europe over, Japan is the main enemy. Japan’s military strategy was known to be very unorthodox. With suicide pilots attacking U.S. ships and their relentless mindset made it a daunting task for the U.S. to overcome. In the mainland the U.S. was holding Japanese Americans in internment camps to isolate them from the rest of society in fear they may be giving information to the Japanese. The United States did not see an invasion of Japan as a viable...
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...The use of an atomic bomb is something that has lingered in the conscience of many Americans since the American B-29 Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb ever used on August 6, 1945. The United States was urging Japan to surrender, when they refused to comply with these terms, the bomb was dropped and 100,000 people were killed. Two professors of American History, Robert James Maddox and Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, share their opposing views on weather the atomic bomb was necessary to end World War II. Maddox claims that the atomic bomb forced the Japanese army to agree to surrender, which significantly saved more lives than would have been lost. Hasegawa asserts that the Soviet invasion of Japan was a more prominent reasoning for surrender in comparison to the use of the atomic bomb and considers alternatives that seemed to be overlooked by military leaders. A meeting was held at the White House on June 18, 1945. A committee was assembled to consider the major issues concerning the use of the bomb that would present its opinion to the president, army chiefs and secretaries. Army chief of Staff General George C. Marshall was asked to present future war plans. They suggested an operation that was code-named Olympic which would be the invasion of Kyushu to blockade and stage an invasion of Japan’s main island. They then recommended to Truman, “the bomb should be used against Japan as soon as possible… against a military target surrounded by other buildings… without prior warning...
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