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Cons to nuclear weapons
Uses of atomic bomb in world war 2
Cons to nuclear weapons
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Why do states seek to acquire nuclear weapons?
Millions of people round the globe are wondering why some nations acquired and acquiring nuclear weapons. Since during the epoch of world II, nuclear weapons have been in existence and has been used by the United States in August, 1945, against the nation of Japan. Similarly, it is one of the central issue and controversial topic for the international security when it was developed and especially in this present time. Five plus one nations (super powers) raised concerns after the cold war that nuclear weapons or nuclear arsenals might be acquired by many number of states Griffith (2005, p.606).
The paper will proceed with a brief history of nuclear weapons. The definition of nuclear weapons is first explained and addressed. It’s examined some of the causes why these such weapons, so-called nuclear weapons or warheads attracted and still even attracting some nations seeking for it. The invention of nuclear weapons is then agued to have been a major reason of ending the cold war or war between super powers. The advantages and disadvantages of nuclear weapons, including nuclear states and the states that are likely to become or go nuclear will also be discussed.
Nuclear weapons are described as the weapons of mass destruction an explosive force of fifty-seven megatons (millions of tons) of Tri Nitro Toluene (TNT). These are such weapons that could destroy the total population of many millions of lives in the world. Kegley JR and Wittkopf (2001, p.473).
The conception of these weapons took up during world two around 1945 by the United States scientists. This was the first time these atomic bombs were used and dropped against on the Japanese people, the urban center of Nagasaki on da...
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... States at the conclusion of the Korean War and also during the Taiwan Straits cries in the mid-1950s.
It also argued that the issue of hostility in Sino-Soviet relations in the 1960s, encouraged China to aim and developed another further nuclear weapon. In Avery Goldstein’s phrase, ‘the most robust and affordable security of nuclear weapons, since the border clashes again exposed the limited valued of china’s conventional deterrent.’ Sagan (2007, pp.58-59).
The Republic of India, developed and acquired nuclear weapon capability to redress threats to its protection from Pakistan and China. For that ground they wanted to maximize their power for self-preservation for national security. It also exhibited for their self-pride that India scientists are capable and talented to develop nuclear weapons like those Nuclear Weapons States. Perkovich (1999, pp.5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
After the first Hydrogen bomb was tested on November 1st 1952, many nations desired its power and a worldwide arms race for hydrogen bombs began. “August 12 [, 1953]: First test of Soviet thermonuclear device (Andrei Sakharov 's "Layer Cake") takes place.”(9). The USSR is the first to follow in the footsteps of the United States, since it was during the cold war, the USSR was basically forced to build and test a hydrogen bomb to prove their power and technological advancements. For the USSR, building this bomb had many prospects that made it very desirable, one was an increase in nationalism, and a showcase to the world of their power; possibly a fear tactic for easier imperialism, secondly: this gave them an economic boost as well as a boost to production: workers would take pride in what they did and therefore were more motivated to work hard. “NEW DELHI, May 17 [, 1998]— In a disclosure with potential to accelerate further a nuclear arms race with Pakistan, Indian scientists confirmed today that the largest of the five underground nuclear tests they conducted last week involved a hydrogen bomb”(10) India too followed in the arms race, their test came later yet “The news conference in New Delhi turned into another occasion for Indians to demonstrate soaring pride over the nuclear tests. The scientists were applauded by Indian reporters, asked for their autographs and generally treated much
At 5:30 AM July 16th 1945, the nuclear age had started. The world’s first atomic bomb was detonated. On August 6th 1942 at 8:15 AM, an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped a perfected atomic bomb created by the Americans, over the city of Hiroshima hoping to end the war. Thousands of people died in the two cities in Japan. They were Hiroshima and Nagasaki “the Manhattan Project”. The research and development project that produced these atomic bombs during this time was known as “the Manhattan Project”.
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.
When President Truman authorized the use of two nuclear weapons in 1945 against the Japanese in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II, the nature of international security was changed irreversibly. At that time, the United States had what was said to have a monopoly of atomic bombs. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union began working on atomic weaponry. In 1949, it had already detonated it first atomic bomb and tensions began to heat up between the two countries. With the information that the Soviets had tested their first bomb, the United States began work on more powerful weapons1, and a fight for nuclear superiority had begun.
The dropping of the first atomic bomb marked a turning point in the way nations fight one another. The destructive nature of the atomic bomb changed the course of warfare forever. “The effectiveness of nuclear deterrence is best explained by the fact that it was based on fear unlike other peace-keeping strategies of the twentieth century.” This gradual shift to a “fear based” strategy was in response to the failures of previous peace keeping strategies earlier in the century during World War I and II, including the Wilsonian ideals, the treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I, and the concept of appeasement prior to the start of World War II.
In early August 1945 atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These two bombs quickly yielded the surrender of Japan and the end of American involvement in World War II. By 1946 the two bombs caused the death of perhaps as many as 240,000 Japanese citizens1. The popular, or traditional, view that dominated the 1950s and 60s – put forth by President Harry Truman and Secretary of War Henry Stimson – was that the dropping of the bomb was a diplomatic maneuver aimed at intimating and gaining the upper hand in relations with Russia. Today, fifty-four years after the two bombings, with the advantage of historical hindsight and the advantage of new evidence, a third view, free of obscuring bias and passion, can be presented. First, the dropping of the bomb was born out of complex infinite military, domestic and diplomatic pressures and concerns. Second, many potentially viable alternatives to dropping the bombs were not explored by Truman and other men in power, as they probably should have been. Lastly, because these alternatives were never explored, we can only conjecture over whether or not Truman’s decision was a morally just one, and if indeed it was necessary to use atomic energy to win the war.
World War II brought up many new technologies for warfare. Advanced on existing developments such as weaponry, ships, vehicles air crafts, navigational devices and medicine are just a few broad examples of developments in warfare during this time in United States and World history. One development, however, changed the entire way of warfare. The Atomic bomb was developed during this time out of fears that the Germans had the same technologies, or at least were working to obtain it. Once the United States had this technological capability of producing atomic weapons, the way of fighting was changed. Two bombs were dropped on Japan in August of 1945, one on the city of Hiroshima and the other on the city of Nagasaki. Afterward, the ear of atomic diplomacy came up in American international relations, which as we have seen today, has led to the development of even stronger, more deadly weaponry and bombs. The bombing of Japan also brings up the still prevalent debate of whether the bombings were justifiable or not. Historians Gar Alperovitz, Robert P. Newman and Barton Bernstein all have written essays expressing their opinions in the matter.
After the first few days of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Americans, without knowledge of the aftermath of these cities, began cheering and celebrating as the bombings marked the end of World War II. Also, this event showed that Americans would be the ones who would lead the world into the nuclear age. In a Gallup Poll taken from August 10-15, 1945, Americans were asked whether or not they approved or disapproved of the use of atomic bombs on Japanese cities, 85 percent approved, ten percent disapproved and five had no opinion.30 then when asked if the development of the atomic bomb was a good or bad thing, 69 percent said it was a good thing, 17 percent said it was bad, and 14 percent had no opinion (Steele).
What Nuclear power has the ability to do is get a lot of power in a little amount of space. “Roughly 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity, and 2.4 billion rely on traditional biomass because they have no access to modern fuel.” (General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei) With nuclear power put into these countries that are without power we can have it to where electricity will be accessibility to everyone. By having power accessible to everyone we can accomplish so much more and unlock more possibilities in our world today.
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.
In August 1945, the atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were guided by the United States during the final stages of World War II. It was led by the United States with the help of many scientists willing to construct the world’s first nuclear bomb. Many feared new warfare technology, for it contained the ability to cause mass destruction and devastate the human population. This was a major topic of concern for many during the Cold War Era, and has carried over to the present day. Nuclear destruction was avoided by the Soviets and the United States by fighting in proxy wars, such as the Vietnam War, Korean War, and political crisis in the Middle East. (www.americanhistory.si.edu.) This was seen as a new technique of delegacy that benefited the human population instead of nuclear bombs. During the economic and political tensions of the Long War, nuclear weapons worried many who were concerned for the future of humanity and themselves. (Sherwin) However, for many, nuclear activity demonstrated the expansion of human innovation and intellectuality. Scientific discoveries were highly praised, especially those who strengthened a nation’s military power. For the US, their invention and discover of nuclear weapons demonstrated their dominance over global interaction, especially over the Soviet Union. (Goodman) The introduction of nuclear technology brought forth new techniques of warfare that led to the end of WWII and further concerns in the time of global expansion.
The nuclear bomb was the most devastating weapon ever created by man. It was developed between 1942 and 1945 during the second World War. The project to build the worlds first atomic weapon was called The Manhattan Project. The nuclear bomb was based on the idea of splitting an atom to create energy, this is called fission. Three bombs were created, “Trinity”, “Little Boy”, and “Fat Man”. “Trinity” was dropped on a test site in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, proving the theories, engineering and mathematics of the bomb to be correct. Shortly after that, not more than 2 months, the U.S. performed the first actual nuclear attack in the history of war. The bomb “Little Boy” was dropped on the town of Hiroshima, instantly killing thousands. “Fat Man” was dropped shortly after on the town of Nagasaki. After the bombing almost all scientist involved with the creation of the bomb regretted its construction and spoke out against the abolishment of nuclear weapons.
The Cold War was a time of great tension all over the world. From 1945 to 1989, the United States was the leader and nuclear power and was competing with the Soviet Union to create huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons. However, even though the Cold War ended, nuclear weapons are still a threat. Countries around the world strive to create nuclear power, and they do not promise to use it for peaceful purposes. Some examples of the struggles caused by nuclear weapons include the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Iran’s recent nuclear weapon program. Surely, nuclear weapons have created conflict all over the world since the Cold War era.
Scott D. Sagan, the author of chapter two of “More Will Be Worse”, looks back on the deep political hostilities, numerous crises, and a prolonged arms race in of the cold war, and questions “Why should we expect that the experience of future nuclear powers will be any different?” The author talks about counter arguments among scholars on the subject that the world is better off without nuclear weapons. In this chapter a scholar named Kenneth Waltz argues that “The further spread of nuclear weapons may well be a stabilizing factor in international relations.” He believes that the spread of nuclear weapons will have a positive implications in which the likely-hood of war decreases and deterrent and defensive capabilities increase. Although there
Ever since the end of World War II there has been a worldwide arms race that is and will truly be never ending. This race has affected more than just countries’ militaries, but their economies and foreign relations also. Military spending has increased drastically in almost every country since the start. Numerous amounts of treaties and pacts have been created in order to try and limit conflict. The current arms race typically involves nuclear weapons and much more advanced military technology. This is a big problem because countries themselves are trying to become the most dominant powerhouse but all that has done is create more weapons and force more countries to join the race. I am going to assess exactly how the arms race has affected countries