The Cold War is famous not only for its long engagement between the two super powers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union, but also because of the heightened physical tension that nuclear power brought to the global stage. Winning the war at the cost of human annihilation was not abnormal political conversation, and from the 1940s onward, fear of global destruction became a daily concern (Granieri, 2011). The circumstances of the Cold War made it different than previous international conflicts because it was the first conflict that could potentially lead to massive, worldwide destruction. Without the dangers of nuclear power, the Cold War wouldn't have differed much from previous historical conflicts between powerful states.
In this essay, I will summarize two specific events that occurred within the framework of the Cold War. From there, I will analyze their potential effects if nuclear weaponry had not been involved. Lastly, I will explain how nuclear power had a positive effect on the war, due to its influence via deterrence. Finally, I will summarize the importance of nuclear power in the Cold War.
A controversial, but positive role of nuclear power in the Cold War was the use of the atomic bomb, "Fat Man," in Nagasaki. Though it is impossible to deny the damage done by the atomic bomb and the inhumane massacre of the people who lived there, the atomic bomb in historical terms was a success for two reasons. First, it ended World War ll by forcing Japan to surrender (Nuclear News). In addition, the drop of the atomic bomb also sent a powerful message to the Soviet Union about the strength of the U.S. and its allies (Granieri, 2011).
Some argue that the destruction of the atomic bomb was astronomical, though in actuality, the ...
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The Cold War was a period of dark and melancholic times when the entire world lived in fear that the boiling pot may spill. The protectionist measures taken by Eisenhower kept the communists in check to suspend the progression of USSR’s radical ambitions and programs. From the suspenseful delirium from the Cold War, the United States often engaged in a dangerous policy of brinksmanship through the mid-1950s. Fortunately, these actions did not lead to a global nuclear disaster as both the US and USSR fully understood what the weapons of mass destruction were capable of.
This investigation assesses President Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will determine whether or not his decision was justified. This investigation will scrutinize the reasons that made Harry Truman feel inclined to drop atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Preventing further casualties along with the desire to end the war are two argumentative points that will be analyzed to determine if they were strong enough to justify the dropping of the atomic bombs. Excerpts from Truman’s memoirs and a variety of different titles were consulted in order to undertake this investigation. Section C will evaluate two sources for their origins purposes values and limitations. The first is a book titled The Invasion of Japan written by John Stakes in 1955. And the second is a book titled Prompt & Utter Destruction written by J. Samuel Walker.
"Cuban Missile Crisis." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
The Cold War was the most important historic event in the 20th century after the Second World War, from 1945 till 1991 between two most powerful countries in that period – Soviet Union and USA. The Cold War invested a lot in world politics. What is the Cold War? This was a war for dominance in the world. In 1945 the USA was the only one country in the world that had the nuclear weapons. But in the 1949 USSR started to learn their nuclear weapons. In further developments forced the USSR was soon created by nuclear, and then thermonuclear weapons. (Isaacs J, 2008) Fight has become very dangerous for all.
Decisions are the hardest thing to make, especially considering how Harry Truman decided to drop the US Atomic bombs onto Okinawa and Iwo Jima. The role of ending the war with Japan was in his hands, but it would require releasing the most horrendous weapon ever known. However, there was some controversy over Truman’s decision. Some people say that it was unnecessary to use the Atomic bombs, such as the Federal Council of Churches and the Christian Faith. They stated that: “As American Christians, we are deeply penitent for the irresponsible use already made of the atomic bomb.
May, Ernest R. “John F Kennedy and the Cuban MIssile Crisis.” BBC News. BBC., 18 Nov. 2013.
Maddox, Robert. “The Biggest Decision: Why We Had to Drop the Atomic Bomb.” Taking Sides: Clashing View in United States History. Ed. Larry Madaras & James SoRelle. 15th ed. New York, NY. 2012. 280-288.
One of the most controversial decisions that have been made, in the history of the United States, was Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on the two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The ever so controversial topic of the dropping of the atomic bombs has successfully driven people insane. People feel strongly that this decision was atrocious and unnecessary, while others believe the polar opposite, that it was completely necessary. Some historians argue that the human cost to the Japanese population can never justify the use of such weapons. Other historians see it from an optimistic perspective, that it would not have been moral if atomic weapons had not been used to end the war as quickly as possible. President Harry S.
Powers, Thomas. "THE BOMB : Hiroshima: Changing the Way We Think About War." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 06 Aug. 1995. Web. 10 Jan. 2014.
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.
Melissa Jordine said that “1949 proved to be a pivotal year,” and she would be correct (Cold War). It was the middle of the Cold War and tensions were high between the Soviet Union and the United States. The US had consistently opposed Russia’s communist government, but had become even more vehement in their hostilities once Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the USSR, announced his intentions to overthrow capitalist systems worldwide, which included the system that the United States boasted (Cold War). The American people knew they must resist the rising power, and the only feasible option that they saw to deter Soviet aggression was to maintain military superiority, namely through the singular possession of nuclear weapons. So it came as a terrifying shock when the Soviet Union detonated their own atomic bomb on August 29, 1949, ending the United States’ “atomic monopoly” and starting a race to develop better nuclear arms (Jordine, Hydrogen Bomb). The hydrogen bomb, or H-bomb, was a product of this race, and while its creation negatively impacted the environment, it served its intended purpose in the respect that the threat of its use prevented a nuclear war and allowed for the United States to retain its capitalist government.
On October 22nd, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered the famous "Cuban Missile Crisis Address to the Nation" speech in response to Nikita Khrushchev’s act of placing nuclear and flying missiles on the island directly south of the United States: Cuba. The purpose of the speech was to alert the nation of the situation and inform them on how it would be handled. This speech successfully won the attention and respect of the American and Russian people through the use of multiple rhetorical devices.
The development and usage of the first atomic bombs has caused a change in military, political, and public functionality of the world today. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki revolutionized warfare by killing large masses of civilian population with a single strike. The bombs’ effects from the blast, extreme heat, and radiation left an estimated 140,000 people dead. The bombs created a temporary resolution that lead to another conflict. The Cold War was a political standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States that again created a new worldwide nuclear threat. The destructive potential of nuclear weapons had created a global sweep of fear as to what might happen if these terrible forces where unleashed again. The technology involved in building the first atomic bombs has grown into the creation of nuclear weapons that are potentially 40 times more powerful than the original bombs used. However, a military change in strategy has came to promote nuclear disarmament and prevent the usage of nuclear weapons. The technology of building the atomic bomb has spurred some useful innovations that can be applied through the use of nuclear power. The fear of a potential nuclear attack had been heightened by the media and its release of movies impacting on public opinion and fear of nuclear devastation. The lives lost after the detonation of the atomic bombs have become warning signs that changed global thinking and caused preventative actions.
After America had successfully tested the atomic bomb in mid-July 1945, the United States President was eager to use it as one of the weapons of ending the Second World War. Despite the evidence gathered from the testing of this bomb that it had far reaching effects than other normal bombs, President Harry Truman still went forth to have a chart with his allies on the possibility of using the bomb as a way of forcing Japan to surrender. To many, this was a seriously barbarous act that has ever been recorded in the history of the world. Thus, there have always been discussions as to whether the use of the bomb was necessary or not. Many views have been put forth to either defend President Harry Truman or to criticize his decision. The shocking part of these is that
By displaying the destruction and effects of atomic bombs on a populace directly, the U.S. showed the world “...a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, [which takes] the toll of many innocent lives. (Hirohito).” After WW2 ended and the Cold War began, the A-bombs were “used as a deterrent to keep the (sometimes uneasy) peace between the US and the USSR, and it achieved that. The Soviet Union had entered the war against Japan, and the atomic bomb could be read as a strong message for the Soviets to tread lightly. There are no cases of a direct, all-out war between the US and the Soviets that can be attributed to the potentially devastating effects of atomic weaponry (Mason).” Had the horror of atomic weapons not been so clearly demonstrated, the US and USSR would not have made it through the Cold War without using them, which would’ve lead to horrendous ramifications for the