Nuclear Bomb Dbq

Throughout the history of human civilization, wars resulted in a relatively low casualty count compared to the future. World War II was a major turning point. The creation of the nuclear bomb was a major development in the way wars were fought. The nuclear bomb was first developed by the United States in fear of the Nazis making it before them (History.com Staff). This bomb had the capability to mass murder tens of thousands of people instantly, and many more over time through harmful radiation poisoning (History.com Staff). While it may have expedited the war with Japan, the development and use of the nuclear bomb by the United States Military on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was unjustified because of how it sparked the age of nuclear weapons and

the massive loss of human life.
The development of the first nuclear bomb by the United States was greatly destructive to human society because of how it started the age of nuclear weapons that came after. After the United States developed the bomb, countries like Russia, China, and Great Britain raced to make their own bombs in order to have the world’s most potent weapon in their possession. Currently nine countries own nuclear weapons, and the number is still growing (Friedman). M.A.D, or Mutually Assured Destruction, is the idea that if one country uses a nuclear bomb on another, they are ensuring their own destruction because of guaranteed nuclear retaliation. This theory attempts to ensure that no country will use nuclear weapons on any other country (Kramer). Unfortunately, this theory almost failed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviet Union moved nuclear weapons to Cuba, threatening the national security of the United States. Mounting tension caused people around the world to panic in fear of a worldwide nuclear war (History.com Staff). While this situation was resolved with next to no casualties, we cannot be assured of this in the future. (Analysis cont.) Because of increasingly erratic and spontaneous world leaders with less awe and fear of nuclear weapons, it will be increasingly risky for people across the globe who may get caught in the middle of an international war. The use of even one nuclear bomb in the future could easily lead to another world war with an exponentially higher casualty count and
The development and use of the nuclear bomb should be considered detrimental to human society as a whole because of how it caused a massive loss of human lives.

It was made by The United States in fear of The Nazi regime developing it first. The first atomic bomb dropped by the United States was called the Little Boy. It was dropped on Hiroshima on August 8, 1945 and killed 90,00 people. The second bomb, named Fat Man, was dropped three days later in Nagasaki and killed 40,000 people (History.com Staff). Thousands of innocent, civilian lives were ended in a matter of seconds, while those that survived had to endure painful burns and other injuries. Even those that were not in the blast radius were at risk because of the harmful effects of nuclear fallout (History.com Staff). (Analysis) Supporters of the United State’s use of nuclear bombs say that despite the huge loss of human lives, it was justified because it expedited the end of World War II and saved soldier’s lives. They argue that if the United States had not dropped the bombs on Japan, they instead would have launched a full-scale invasion that would lead to the deaths of thousands of American and Japanese soldiers (History.com Staff). This argument is flawed because it values the lives of American soldiers over the lives of Japanese civilians. As a society, we cannot justify mass murder of a group of people by saying that it saves the lives of another group of people. Humans who are not actively fighting in a war should not be used as a target. If the United States had not dropped the bombs countless soldiers would have undoubtedly died, however many more defenseless Japanese citizens would be safe from the destructive power of the nuclear bomb. Condemning one group of innocent people to death and destruction in order to save the lives of soldiers can never be used as an excuse for any military

action.
When looking back on the events of World War II, It is important to remember to ask why certain actions were taken and if those actions were justified. Humans should be able to look back and understand that saving lives of one group of people while condemning another to death and destruction is not justified for any of the previously stated reasons. When reflecting on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it should be recognized that it was not justified because of the massive loss of life and the age of nuclear weapons that occurred afterwards. Some have attempted to justify the bombings by saying that they saved lives overall. However, it must be retained that this argument is incorrect because it values saving American lives over Japanese lives.