Overall, the United States got what they primarily wanted, which was to end the war in a timely fashion. Truman’s team was able to keep him on track to continue to impose a strict goal made by his military officers. Despite the possibility of executing the bomb for the sole desire to intimidate Russia, Truman stuck to his justification. The men in uniform were the ones that convinced him to take immediate action instead of watching the rising threat of Russia The thought of communism as being the world evil began to convince the United States that they were the ones who had the power to stop it. After the bombing, the US began to take on another threat to society. The action made in Japan displayed that the US was ready to take on any other nation through extreme cost. Nations other than Japan would be aware that the US was no longer the country that sat and waited for an attack to be made, or that they would compromise with those who attacked them. It is reasonable for other countries to acknowledge the country that was always on the side of …show more content…
They were certain that their secret to create the bomb would be kept within the states. FDR himself did not heed the warnings made by the scientists of the construction of the atomic bomb because he was more worried about the progression not the consequences on humans. This indicated the US confidence in their position globally. Despite the US correspondence with Britain regarding the Manhattan project, FDR began to reconsider their partnership with Britain. They had no interest in making nuclear weapons themselves during the war. Furthermore, the news of the alliance made between the Soviets and Britain convinced them to go at it alone. The United States planned to be militarily dominant and then rely on the atomic diplomacy to counterbalance the power that Russia would
using the bombs during WWII not only to defeat the Japanese, but also to intimidate the Soviet Union and prove their power to the world. The U.S. knew Japan would surrender soon without the use of a destructive weapon. The Soviet Union definitely had some influence on the military decision made by the American government. As Professor Stoff mentioned in one of his lectures, Churchill believed Stalin was more dangerous than Hitler. Although the Soviet Union was an “ally” to America, they never really had an actual relationship. It was more of an alliance of convenience. The U.S. has always wanted to prove itself to be the best. Being the first country to have and use a nuclear weapon was a huge deal. As a result, President Truman told Stalin that we had a weapon and Stalin told us to use it. The U.S. also announced to Japan that we would use a weapon that would cause massive destruction and the majority of citizens ignored it. At the time, there was a threat that Russia would become a problem after the war. The U.S. dropped the bombs in Japan to end the war as quickly as possible to prevent Russia from gaining land in Asia. Therefore, the use of the bombs was not purely to defeat the
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
...d by widespread hysteria and hostility between the two superpowers. The United States’ role as a peacemaker was forever challenged by the use of this weapon and for the rest of his time as president, Truman would fight to stop the spread of communism and the greatest fear of the succeeding presidents was the outbreak of nuclear war. The decision Truman chose changed the course of world history. From a moral standpoint, the loss of innocent lives is never fair. The tremendous cost of using this weapon was the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent Japanese civilians from the immediate and long-term effects of bombs. Despite the moral arguments against this choice, this was the best one for the American cause. Truman’s obligation was first to the American people and as commander-in-chief, he made the decision he believed to best for his constituents.
The super bomb in which America and Russia were trying to build was in fact the Hydrogen Bomb. This bomb had an unlimited blast potential and for the country who possessed it unlimited power. The A-bomb’s explosion was based on the principal of fission (the splitting of atoms), however the H-bomb’s explosion was base on fusion (the coming together of atoms). In August of 1945 Russian President Stalin, turns up the nuclear project in Russia. He put Barria whom was in charge of the secret police, to head the Russian Nuclear program. An American scientist named Edward Teller solicited the American government to build the H-bomb. He was born in Hungary and had learned to fear the communists and the Russians. In April of 1946 the Super Conference was held. Klaus Fuchs was a scientist that worked for Teller at Los Alamos, he told the Russians how to build the A-bomb, and also about Tellers ideas of the H-bomb. He was arrested for spying for the Russians. By chance the Americans found out that there were traces of radioactive material in the air over Russia. They pieced together that Russia had the A-bomb they decided to go ahead with plans to build the super bomb. President Truman came to the conclusion that no matter how bad of a weapon the H-bomb was if was better if we had if first. America had lost some of its power and wanted to gain a new edge. General Curtis Lamay was put in charge of Strategic Air Command to protect America from the threat of nuclear war. Lamay was the ranking Air Force General over the Skies of the pacific and was the man for the job. His strategy was to have an abundant amount of bombers ready to strike every major city in the Soviet Union. He wanted everyone in the Army and Air Force to act as if war was not far away.
In their opinion this was why the United States was building nuclear bombs. The Soviets did not think America had a good foreign policy as it just aggravated them and put them in a corner about building nuclear bombs. The vice president at the time, Henry Wallace agreed that the continual production of bombs was not portraying American in the right way to other countries. It was making us appear power hungry for world domination as well as preparing for a war that was inevitable. Wallace warns that the United States made seem like “unfriendly neighbors” who have the power to destroy their country. While the the United States was trying to protect themselves and other European nations from the spread of communism their building of nuclear bombs was portrayed as an act of aggression. The Truman Doctrine helped them at the time with Greece and Turkey it would come back to harm them later as they would be forced to defend the spread of communism in two harmful
middle of paper ... ... g of the bombs indicated to Stalin that Truman was willing to threaten the security parameters of the Soviet Union. Stalin therefore realized that he could only gain back negotiating powers by building a bomb himself. It now appears inane to claim that Roosevelt’s attempt at avoiding a conflict such as the Cold War actually led to it, when contrasting his policies with those of Truman’s. Certainly the U.S.S.R. made tremendous progress in terms of securing its influence of power, and for that the blame is ascribed to Roosevelt.
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 demands. The “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.
In addition to the prevention of communism, President Truman’s decision was also influenced by the apprehensive environment during the Cold War. The Soviet Union was able to ruin the United States as the monopoly of nuclear bombs in 1949 when they successfully detonated their first atomic bomb (“The Cold War Museum”).... ... middle of paper ... ...
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.
How different would the world be if America had never dropped the bomb on Japan to end World War II? If America had simply offered Japan a way to surrender by simply threatening the use of the atomic bomb, would Japan have surrendered? The world will never know, however Leo Szilard, one of the scientists that created the atomic bomb, tried to make a plea for this to happen. A month before the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan in WWII, Leo Szilard and 59 scientists stood up for what they believed in and tried to alter the thinking and decision that the President was making.
If one aim was met with the Hiroshima bombing, it was the physical effects, which were able to devastate an entire city. Dropping the atomic bomb was a decision that no man would want to take on. Truman went with all the facts and his gut feeling. There was great loss for Japan, but even some of the Japanese soldiers were happy that the United States dropped the bomb.
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).
During the final stages of World War II the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the country of Japan. On August 6, 1945 America dropped the first nuclear weapon ever used in war, an atomic bomb by the name of “little boy.” It killed approximately eighty thousand people, not including the amount of people that died due to the radiation exposure. Then on August 9, 1945 America dropped its second atomic bomb by the name of “fatman” that killed roughly forty thousand people. The dropping of the atomic bombs lead to Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan’s surrender in the war on August 15, 1945. “Why We Dropped the Bomb” written by Gar Alperovitz discusses the use of the atomic bombs, why they were used, and how it helped America gain political power. “Thank God for the Atom Bomb” written by Paul Fussel discusses how the atomic bombs were used to save lives against the Japanese. Gar Alperovitz’s article is a more persuasive piece compared to Paul Fussel’s article, because it provides facts and examples that help us understand why America used the atom bomb and how it helped America’s political status.
On August 6, 1945 the first of two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan by the United States in order to finish World War II. The first one landed over the heavily populated city of Hiroshima. The second bomb was dropped, not only three days later, on August 9, 1945 on another Japanese city called Nagasaki. Both atomic bombs made terrible impacts on the cities they were dropped on. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed beyond belief leaving a trail of dust where once families lived a normal life. The U.S. should not have dropped the Atomic Bomb on Japan because it affected the climate and world’s mindset, targeted two sites that were not military bases, and killed a profuse amount of innocent citizens.