Atomic bomb was the biggest turning point in modern history. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions. The use of nuclear weapons to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan wasn’t like any other weapons; it was more than that. Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed in total of 130,000 people in Japan. The aftermath of the atomic bomb, nuclear weapon, was much more serious and danger than anyone thought it was. On August 6, 1945, during the World War II, and American bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over at the city of Japan, Hiroshima. The explosion nearly wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people and 10,000 more from the radiation. According to …show more content…
Truman claims the bomb use was for military purposes. Not only because he wanted to show the military power of the United States but also to save many of American soldiers lives. At the time the Germany had already been defeated and the war with Germany was over. However, war against Japan didn’t seem to stop. This made Truman think about other ways to stop the war. He urged for a new weapon to stop the war with Japan. Truman wanted a new weapon to bring the war into speedy end. Before the bomb, Japanese had many chances to surrender but they didn’t. Some of other historians suggest that it was to how demonstration of the U.S’ new weapons to the USSR (Soviet Union). By 1945, relationship between the United States and Soviet Union was destroyed. They hoped that the dropping of atomic bomb was a way to show the United States’ strength to Soviet Union. However, some argues that the dropping the atomic bomb was …show more content…
Japanese were running out of resources. They were fighting for 4 years and they were running out of military sources because of effective sea blockage. Also, the atomic bomb was created for defense use only during the Manhattan Project. If Truman was using it to Japan as an attack, it meant that he ignored the true purpose of such a strong weapon. It was intended to be a deterrent, to make Germany or any other enemy think twice before using such a weapon against the United States. In addition, the U.S could’ve used one of the atomic bomb as a demonstration bomb to scare Japan off, threatening them that the U.S do have a strong weapon that can wipe away their city as a whole. Some say that there was racism included in this decision. At the time, Japanese were looked upon as inhuman and
The first reason on why Truman made the right decision was because the atomic bomb ultimately helped to prevent the deaths of American troops. There would have been over 100,000 losses during the first stage of the attack against Japan, leading to over one million casualties of just Americans during the defeat of Japan(Tucker 1). Although there is no way to confirm the amount of predicted deaths, any amount of American deaths would have been avoided with the use of the atomic bomb. Comparing a million predicted deaths of Americans to the 140,000 (±10,000) that were actually killed in the Hiroshima bomb(Faragher 4), the decision implementing the bomb was executed in the correct way.
While Truman had his reasons for using the bomb, there were people who agreed with him were the orthodox historians while the people who disagreed called revisionists. Truman had thought through the possibilities and had decided that using the bomb would be the most effective and quickest tactic. As a president, Truman had a responsibility to protect his country, citizens, and foreign affairs, so deciding on the best method to establish everybody’s needs was difficult. There were many things to worry about: fighting in Iwo Jima and Okinawa, bombing Japan, and building the bomb. His decision was mainly based on how the US citizens felt and the actions of Japan.
The quicker the war ended, the less casualties Americans would suffer. Second, he sought to justify the money and effort that was put into the Manhattan Project. If he did not use the bomb, people would blame him for the lives lost towards the end of the war because he withheld such a powerful weapon. Third, using the bomb would impress the Soviets, make them more subordinate to American desires, and improve overall relations with them. Fourth, Truman realized he lacked reasons to avoid using the bomb. In the military, diplomatic, and political sense, the bomb was the best route. Morality would be the only issue, but these were not a major preventive. Lastly, Truman claimed the Japanese were like a beast and the only way to deal with them was to treat them like a beast. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, hatred had been built up against the Japanese. This hate diminished any hesitation Truman may have experienced in his decision to drop the
If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.” (Truman).The justification of the bombs was the fact that the bomb was only in retaliation to a hostile nation and there refusal to cooperate with the American government. Japan was attacking with no fear they were unwavering because there military mind set was to never surrender because it was a sign of weakness it was against their nature. And so was the United States we were not going to give up though we were not gaining anything from this war only loosing we had the same sort of national mindset that we could to surrender for the fear of being preserved as week. So with the rejection of surrender the United States dropped the bomb in order to stop a more brutal war and to protect the United States from having to drop out of the
The first atomic bomb was not tested at all. It was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 killing over 80,000 people and almost completely leveling the entire city. It destroyed more than 4 square miles, or 60% of the city. The flash of the blast was so intense it discolored the pavement and left imprints on the ground cast by the shadows of building and people.
The atomic bomb is the subject of much controversy. Since its first detonation in 1945, the entire world has heard the aftershocks of that blast. Issues concerning Nuclear Weapons sparked the Cold War. We also have the atomic bomb to thank for our relative peace in this time due to the fear of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). The effects of the atomic bomb might not have been the exact effects that the United States was looking for when they dropped Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively (Grant, 1998). The original desire of the United States government when they dropped Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not, in fact, the one more commonly known: that the two nuclear devices dropped upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki were detonated with the intention of bringing an end to the war with Japan, but instead to intimidate the Soviet Union. The fact of Japan's imminent defeat, the undeniable truth that relations with Russia were deteriorating, and competition for the division of Europe prove this without question.
In August of 1945, both of the only two nuclear bombs ever used in warfare were dropped on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. These two bombs shaped much of the world today.
There were many arguments and factors as to if Truman decided correctly and if the United States should have dropped the bombs. There were many disputes supporting the bombing. Some being the Japanese were warned early enough, it shortened the war, and it saved many Americans lives. There are also voluminous quarrels against the United States bombing the Japanese. Some of these are the bombing killed innocent Japanese civilians who did not deserve it, the Japanese was about to surrender before we bombed them, and the United States only blasted the Japanese because of racism toward them. Though there are many valid reasons for and against the bombing, there is still much controversy today whether president Truman made the right decision.
The attack at Pearl Harbor was the event that caused the U.S. to decide to be involved in the war. After this incident, the U.S. was trying to find a way to retaliate and counterattack against Japan. Some thought that the only way to do so was by using atomic bombs. People like, General Dwight Eisenhower, Harry S Truman, and a group of scientists believed that the use of the bomb would do good, and finally end everything. Eisenhower believed that because the use of the atomic bomb was successful in New Mexico, it would also be successful in Japan as well. Harry S Truman thought that even the atomic bomb was the most destructive weapon in the history of the world, it could be made the most useful. He stated that, “it was ...
The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan were ethical decisions made by President Harry Truman and the United States government. By the time of the atom bomb was ready, the U.S. had been engaged in military conflict for over four years and lost over 400,000 soldiers. Truman claimed, "We would have the opportunity to bring the world into a pattern in which the peace of the world and our civilization can be saved" (Winkler 18). The bomb was aimed at ending the war immediately and avoiding prolonged battle in the Pacific Theater and the inevitable invasion of Japan. President Truman hoped that by showing the Japanese the devastating weapon the U.S. possessed, that the war could be brought ...
Near the end of the Second World War, America and Japan continue to fight with no signs of surrender in sight from either side. President Truman warned the government of Japan that he would use weapons of mass destruction if there was not an end to the war, but they refused to surrender. The decision that Japan made to ignore President Truman left him with two choices; develop the atomic bomb or invade Japan with American forces and allies. After careful consideration, President Truman made the choice to develop and use the nuclear bombs as a way to end World War II. On August 6, 1945, the president unleashed the massive weapon of destruction on the city of Hiroshima dropping the atomic bomb code named “Little Boy”. A few days later on August
There are many people who oppose the use of the atomic bombs; though there are some that believe it was a necessity in ending the war. President Truman realized the tragic significance of the atomic bomb and made his decision to use it to shorten the agony of young Americans (“Was the Atomic Bombing”). The president knew of the way the Japanese fought. They fought to the death and they were brutal to prisoners of war. They used woman and children as soldiers to surprise bomb the enemy. They made lethal weapons and were taught to sacr...
It was certainly a reasonable view for the USA to take, since they had suffered the loss of more than thousands of lives, both military and civilian. To the top rank of the US military, the death toll was worth it to prevent the “many thousands of American troops that would have been killed in invading Japan.” This was a grave consequence taken seriously by the U.S. The atomic bomb was one of the most powerful weapons to be built during this time. Truman may not have been aware of the aftermath, causes and effects it would have, but he knew just how powerful this weapon was.
Dropping the atomic bomb was a decision that no man would want to take on. Truman went with all the facts and his gut feeling. There was Great loss for Japan but even some of the Japanese soldiers were happy that the United States dropped the bomb. For it most likely saved their lives the emperor was willing to sacrifice everyone so he wouldn’t have to surrender. Whether you decide to agree with the bomb dropping or not it wasn’t about the bomb it was about ending the war. The atomic bomb is what ended the war quicker than any other options the United States had making it the best choice.
Obviously, Truman was trying to find a tactic that would result in low amounts of casualties. The atomic bomb, at the time, was the best option he had that would accomplish both his two motives: it’d help bring the war quickly to an end with fewer casualties. According to “history.com”, Truman’s secretary of state believed that this decision would not only end the war with Japan with devastating destruction, but it would also put the U.S. in a place where they can determine the