The Atomic Bomb

August 6th, 1945, 70,0000 lives were ended in a matter of seconds. The United States had dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Today many argue whether or not the U.S. should have taken such a drastic measure. Was it entirely necessary that we drop such a devastating weapon? To answer that first we must look at was going on in the world at the time of the conflict. The U.S. had been fighting a massive war since 1941. Moral was most likely low, and resources were at the same level as moral. Still both sides continued to fight and both were determined to win. Obviously the best thing that could have possibly happened would have been to bring the war to a quick end with a minimum of allied casualties. Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was entirely warranted and was in the best interest of Americans and the world. Three factors should be considered to fully realize this. First, what would have happened should we have not dropped the bomb? Would WWII have ended shortly afterwards without nuclear arms-not likely. Secondly we must consider the Japanese people’s extreme dedication to their country and emperor, willing to give up their own lives without thinking to stop the enemy. Lastly the morality of nuclear bombing must be explored. While many may argue against the use of such a seemingly cruel form of attack was unnecessary, it is obvious that the atomic bomb was the only means to an end of WWII.

What would have happened had the A-bomb not been used? The most obvious answer is that he war would have continued. U.S. forces therefore would have had to invade the home island of Japan. It is hard to imagine the number of additional casualties we would have incurred had a Japanese land war been necessary. Also, our forces would not only have to fend off the Japanese military, but they would also be defending themselves against the civilian peoples of Japan as well. Like the Vietnamese that would come years later, the Japanese government was equipping citizens with any kind of weapon available from guns and knives to spears. Also public support was strongly behind Truman and the allied forces. In the following quote taken from a radio address of the time Harry S. Truman explains what has happened and his motives behind the decision –

“The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. We have won the race of discover...

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... the kinds of things that happen in war, however unfortunate they may be. In this quote Harry Truman again defends and simplistically explains his decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki- “The atom bomb was no ‘great decision’..It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” Truman and the American public rightly stood behind the use of the atom bomb.
By examining the climate of the world at the time of war, and given all other alternatives, the United States had no choice but to drop the bomb. If we had not, many thousands more American lives would have been lost, most likely on the shores of Japan during the inevitable land invasion. Once on Japanese soil our boys would have had to face off with arguably the most dedicated and fiercest warriors the world has known, willing to sacrifice their lives and those of their families for their emperor and country. While there are still many who would argue the cruelty of nuclear weapons, it is apparent that Harry S. Truman was acting in the best interest of America and the world when he authorized the use of the most devastating weapon mankind has ever created.

The Atomic Bomb…Was it Necessary?