Atomic Bomb: America's Instrument of Unconditional Surrender

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The fact that the United States resolved to drop an atomic bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan shocked many people, including U.S. citizens. The U.S. chose a brutal weapon when choosing the atomic bomb, as proven by the thousands of deaths it caused. Today, some people still question the motives for such a ruthless choice of weaponry. The atomic bomb, however destructive and questionable, seemed to be the only way to ensure “unconditional surrender” of the Japanese. The atomic bomb was, in fact, “a clear step designated to force Japan’s unconditional surrender;” however, this statement fails to give attention to the larger picture that influenced the U.S.’s decision to use the atomic bomb. By using the atomic bomb before any other nation
The second side of the double-edged sword dealt perhaps the most significant blow. While the U.S. directed the force at Japan, they also had in mind the desire to show the entire world the force that it had within its grasp. From the beginning of the development of the atomic bomb, the world knew that it would be an unstoppable weapon. With the U.S. having possession of this new weapon, they had the potential to be viewed as an unstoppable force. The decisions the U.S. made about the atomic bomb would change the way the entire world viewed them. If they used it willingly and wisely, they would be viewed with respect and authority. If they used it blindly and carelessly, they would be viewed with fear and hatred. And if they didn’t use it at all, the world might question their willpower and influence. The atomic bomb became the final step to ending WWII, meaning that the war ended on U.S. terms and conditions. The U.S. had previously been waiting for the Soviet Union to join in the fight against the Japanese, but they knew that waiting could mean a prolonged war and the appearance of being weak. The atomic bomb meant that the U.S. “should not need the Russians” (Document E). The U.S. wanted to make it clear to the Soviet Union that they would not submit to their every demand. “Unconditional surrender” on U.S. terms also meant that other nations, including the Soviet Union, would not be able to have decision making power when it came to bargaining or signing treaties. This same bargaining power would potentially carry over into the new United Nations, and the U.S. would never be seen the same again by the world largely because they chose to use the atomic bomb as a weapon that demanded respect and

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