Potsdam Conference

829 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importances of History

What is so important about learning about past events in our history? Well, the answer is simple, in order to move forward in the future and advance as a society, one must first be able to recall events that occured in the past. One year in particular that had a major impact on the world for years that followed was the year 1945, which had many influential events including the Potsdam Conference, the atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Battle of the Bulge.
One of the major events in the year 1945 was the Potsdam Conference. During this meeting of monumental importance, “the leaders of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union” (Rothfeld 1) met to discuss “the occupation of Germany, [and] plans for war reparations by Germany” …show more content…

One of the most devastating events in the history of the United States was the bombing by Japan at Pearl Harbor. Many Americans were killed by the surprise attack by the Japanese that day. As a response, the United States planned the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The attack was initiated “on August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m. (local time)... [the bomb] destroy[ed] 60 percent of the city, and kill[ed] an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 people immediately” (“Atomic Bombing of Japan The Issue” 2). Although this was an attack in response to their attack on us, there were still people that questioned our use of the bomb. Some of the skeptics claimed that using these bombs on innocent civilians “is immortal and barbaric”, and unnecessary because “indications show[ed] that Japan [was] pursuing peace negotiations” (“Atomic Bombing of Japan The Issue” 1). However, the U.S. government claimed that “using the atomic bomb against Japan is the most effective means of bringing World War II to an end… [and] all indications show that Japan [would have fought] to the very last man, so a drastic course of action [was] needed” (“Atomic Bombing of Japan The Issue” 1). Because this event was so controversial between the American people, this event goes down in American history as one of the most impactful from the year

Show More
Related

  • Pearl Harbor Dbq

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious attacks to have ever happened on American soil, starting with disagreement on the Potsdam declaration. Japan’s greed for more land and industrial materials led the Japanese to make a plan to keep the United States out of the war, which consisted the use of kamikaze pilots and bombs to destroy our aircraft carriers and boats in an attempt to control the Pacific. While leaving the drowning, and dead bodies of thousands of American seamen and battleships at the bottom of the sea, seemed to be a good idea to the Japanese; America joined World War II and introduced the first nuclear weapons as reprisal for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Had the Japanese agreed to an unconditional surrender and end to militarism during the agreement on the Potsdam declaration, the introduction to nuclear weapons and the death count wouldn’t have been so high and devastating on both the American and Japanese sides.

    Read More

  • The Failure Of The Potsdam Conference During The Cold War

    269 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Potsdam Conference occurred from July 17th to August 2nd, 1945. The conference took place between US president Harry Truman, Soviet’s Joseph Stain, and England’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The major goal of the Potsdam meeting was what would happen with Germany postwar. They wanted to be able to ensure the “eventual reconstruction of Germany’s democracy and peace.” At that time, the Soviet Union occupied a lot of the Eastern part of Germany and wanted a “unified, but unarmed Germany.” However, President Truman did not trust Stalin’s motives. In addition, Truman had found out that they had tested their atomic bomb and it was ready to be used in battle. Truman seeing the immense advantage the US had from a military standpoint knew he had leverage.

    Read More

  • How Did the Cold War Affect the Politics of Germany and Italy?

    1982 Words  | 4 Pages

    June 5: Supreme power passed to the victorious countries: USA, UK, France and the Soviet Union. (Kettenacker L, 1997) Their main purpose, according to the London Protocol of September 12, 1944 and subsequent agreements, was the implementation of complete control over Germany (Douglas R, 2013) At the heart of this policy lay partition of the country into three zones of occupation, section of Berlin into three parts and the creation of a joint Supervisory Board of three commanders. The division of Germany into zones of occupation had ever recaptured her desire for world dominance.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Dbq

    1981 Words  | 4 Pages

    The United States of America’s use of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has spurred much debate concerning the necessity, effectiveness, and morality of the decision since August 1945. After assessing a range of arguments about the importance of the atomic bomb in the termination of the Second World War, it can be concluded that the use of the atomic bomb served as the predominant factor in the end of the Second World War, as its use lowered the morale, industrial resources, and military strength of Japan. The Allied decision to use the atomic bomb not only caused irreparable physical damage on two major Japanese cities, but its use also minimized the Japanese will to continue fighting. These two factors along

    Read More

  • Why the Atomic Bomb Was the Wrong Choice

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most argued topics today, the end of World War II and the dropping of the atomic bombs still rings in the American ear. Recent studies by historians have argued that point that the United States really did not make the right choice when they chose to drop the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Also with the release of once classified documents, we can see that the United States ...

    Read More

  • World War II And War On Terror

    1793 Words  | 4 Pages

    David Reynolds has written and enlightening book named “From Munich to Pearl Harbor” discussing three main objectives dealing with World War II. The first of the three objectives is to provide a detailed and clear narrative story from the years between Munich to Pearl Harbor. The second of the three purposes or objectives of the book is to analyze and show how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt led the American people into a new perspective on international relations that were different from anything Americans had known. The last of the three objectives of the book is to show the developments between the years of 1938 through 1941. Many of these developments were very important later for the foreign policy of the United States not only during the Second World War but also during the Cold War complications with Russia and today with President Bush’s war on terror currently taking place in Iraq.

    Read More

  • The Atomic Bombs

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    As World War 2, came to a close, The United States unleashed a secret atomic weapon upon the enemy nation of Japan that was quickly recognized as the most powerful wartime weapon in human history. They completely destroyed the entire Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and essentially vaporized countless innocent Japanese lives. Some historians believe that it was a foolish, brutal decision to use the atomic bomb on a weakened Japan, and that the civilians of the country did not deserve that kind of mass-annihilation. On the opposite side, other historians assert that dropping the bomb saved countless American and Japanese lives by ending the war faster than a regular invasion would have. What is undisputed is that this sad event dramatically changed the course of human history.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Atomic Bomb

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. On August 15th, the Japan announced unconditional surrender in World War II. To this day historians still discuss why the U.S. decided to use the atomic bombs. Orthodox historians argue that the decision to drop the bombs was a military one designed purely to defeat the Japanese. Revisionist historians argue that the bombs were not needed to defeat Japan; the bombs were meant to shape the peace by intimidating the Soviets. After analyzing the documents in The Manhattan Project it has become clear that the U.S. used the bombs during WWII not only to defeat the Japanese, but also to intimidate the Soviet Union

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Atomic Bomb

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The atomic bomb certainly is the most powerful of all weapons, but it is conclusively powerful and effective only in the hands of the nation which controls the sky” (Johnson 1). Throughout World War II, the war was in pieces. The Germans were almost at world domination along with their allies, the Italians and Japanese. The Japanese and United states had remained at combat with each other since the bombarding of the Pearl Harbor ("U.S. Drops Atomic Bomb on Japan "1). There was abundant controversy as to whether the United States should have used the atomic bombs or not. There were many factors as to the argument relating to the atomic bombs leading to the United States final decision. Many people had arguments for the bombing and others had arguments against the bombings but it is still not determined if the United States made the right decision.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Pearl Harbor

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • Appeasement Policy and the Munich Agreement

    5818 Words  | 12 Pages

    Throughout history, negotiation has been a powerful tool used by world leaders to avoid violence and resolve conflict. When negotiation succeeds, all parties can feel that they have achieved their goals and met their expectations, but when negotiations go awry, countries and relationships can be damaged beyond repair. The Munich Agreement of 1938 is a primary example of this type of failure, which was one of the catalysts to the start of World War II and Czechoslovakia’s loss of independence. The Czech people were greatly overlooked during this agreement process, which still in some instances affects the country today. The 1930s were a challenging time for Europe and the powers within it due to the aftermath of WWI and the worldwide economic depression.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Morality

    1771 Words  | 4 Pages

    The development of the atomic bomb and chemical warfare forever changed the way people saw the world. It was a landmark in time for which there was no turning back. The constant balancing of the nuclear super powers kept the whole of humankind on the brink of atomic Armageddon. Fear of nuclear winter and the uncertainty of radiation created its own form of a cultural epidemic in the United States. During these tense times in human history officials made controversial decisions such as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dangerous biological experiments and bombs tests were carried out in the name of the greater good and national defense. Some historians and scientists argue that the decisions and acts carried out by the U.S. during World War II and the Cold War were unethical because of the direct damage they did. The United States' decisions were moral because it can be proven their actions were aimed at achieving a greater good and those that were put in potential danger volunteered and were informed of the risk.

    Read More

  • Social Effects of the Berlin Wall

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    Canning, Kathleen. “Responses to German Reunification.” The Journal of     the International Institute. 2000. The Regents of the University of Michigan. 07 March 05

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Dbq

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in attempt to weaken our forces at the time of neutrality and at the time of bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki it was in our best interest to bomb these highly military productive cities to weaken their forces while hoping to provoke Japan to surrender in order to end the bloodshed. For instance, President Truman said, “In deciding the use of this bomb I wanted to make sure it be used as a weapon of war, in the manner prescribed by the laws of war” , this represents that the bomb was used properly on a city of military personnel, and for the sole purpose to end the war. The United States was not the only one who accepted this action but also Winston Churchill of Great Britain agreed it should be done. For example, “I talked to Churchill, he unhesitatingly told me he favored the use of the atomic bomb if it helped aid the end of the war” , this helps understand in their situation dropping the bombs was the best case scenario and the most reasonable way in ending the war

    Read More

  • It is Important to have Knowledge of History

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the same way as knowledge of the past helps to improve computers, it also improves the quality of life for mankind. Knowledge of our past helps us to see how humans react and deal with situations. this allows us to take preventative measures. There was a time when mankind was always at war with each other. Everyone was fighting to take each others land, food, and technology. Since then the United Nations have been created to prevent such types of pointless wars and now there are police which enforce the law and a government in which power lies in the people. There have been many bad times for humans in all parts of the world throughout history. There have been big and small wars with huge death tolls, small battles, famines, depressions, slavery and countless others events which could have been prevented if we had known what the outcome would be. Just as a person learns from their mistakes, knowledge of our history helps us to learn from our mistakes giving us insight into the future. Many events that have happened in our past no longer plague the world today. Slavery used to be prevalent ...

    Read More

More about Potsdam Conference

Open Document