In this essay, I will be describing the reasons as to why the United States used the atom bomb on Hiroshima. I will also be assessing whether they were right or wrong in doing so. I will speak on both sides of this argument and expressing my own opinion in this essay. Reasons Why the U.S. Dropped the Atom Bomb One reason as to why the United States dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima was because it would have saved American lives and ended the war with Japan very quickly. There are a lot of opinions about this reason, but it seems to be the most popular one to believe when it comes down to it. Another reason is that the United States wanted to show Russia that we had just as much power as they did. Due to the relations of Russia and the United …show more content…
It was said that the Japanese would have fought to the very end and wouldn’t have given up, so that is part of the many reasons as to why Truman dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. Validation of those Reasons At this point in the war with Japan, making the decision to drop the first bomb was a very difficult decision for Truman. “American soldiers and civilians were weary from four years of war, yet the Japanese military was refusing to give up their fight.” (History, 2016) At that time, Japan, had about 2 million soldiers on the home islands, despite all the firebombing the United States was doing to other Japanese cities. Japan obviously, was not going to surrender easily for the U.S. They were going to fight to the death. Japan wasn’t going to be as easy to defeat as it was to defeat the Nazi’s. “The Japanese invasion…was likely to cost a half-million Allied and Japanese lives” (Nichols, 2016) Then on August 6 and August 9 of 1945 Truman had two bombs drop on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. August 8 is when the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, then on August 14, 1945, the Japanese finally
The quicker the war ended, the less casualties Americans would suffer. Second, he sought to justify the money and effort that was put into the Manhattan Project. If he did not use the bomb, people would blame him for the lives lost towards the end of the war because he withheld such a powerful weapon. Third, using the bomb would impress the Soviets, make them more subordinate to American desires, and improve overall relations with them. Fourth, Truman realized he lacked reasons to avoid using the bomb. In the military, diplomatic, and political sense, the bomb was the best route. Morality would be the only issue, but these were not a major preventive. Lastly, Truman claimed the Japanese were like a beast and the only way to deal with them was to treat them like a beast. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, hatred had been built up against the Japanese. This hate diminished any hesitation Truman may have experienced in his decision to drop 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 not surrender quickly and the war will drag into a long-drawn-out time. It will force and lead to Truman’s alternative: invade Japan. This would not only increases the resources used, but also more importantly pushes the death count up by an extensive amount of number. The Japanese still had over 4 million troops and 4,800 kamikaze pilots for suicide bombings and missions. In addition, these figures show that the invasion will cost more lives than just dropping the atomic bombs. In addition, 1,700,000 – 4,000,000 American casualties, including 500,000 fatalities, and 5,000,000 – 10,000,000 fatalities were estimated to take the US to conquer the whole of Japan (Frank 1999). This is incredibly higher than the casualties caused by the two atomic bombs: 200,000.
The ability to end the war with Japan was in his grasp, yet it would include releasing the most horrendous weapon at any point known. American troopers and regular citizens were exhausted from four years of war, yet the Japanese military was declining to surrender their battle. American powers possessed Okinawa and Iwo Jima and were strongly firebombing Japanese urban areas. However, Japan had a multitude of 2 million in number positioned in the home islands guarding against attack. For Truman, the decision regardless of whether to utilize the nuclear bomb was the most troublesome choice of his life. Initial, an Allied interest for a quick genuine surrender was made to the authority in Japan. In spite of the fact that the request expressed that refusal would bring about aggregate devastation, no say of any new weapons of mass demolition was made. The Japanese military charge dismissed the demand for unqualified surrender, however there were signs that a contingent surrender was conceivable. On August 6, 1945, a plane called the ENOLA GAY dropped a nuclear bomb on the city of HIROSHIMA. In a flash, 70,000 Japanese residents were vaporized. In the months and years that took after, an extra 100,000 died from consumes and radiation ailment. After two days, the Soviet Union announced war on Japan. On August 9, a moment nuclear bomb was
One of the last major turning points in the war with Japan was the use of the atomic bomb on two Japanese cities. By this time in the war bombing was a standard military practice and “Truman said that he “never had any doubt that it should be used”.” (1197) They gave the Japanese a chance to surrender and when they didn’t the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. A few days later after they still hadn’t surrenderd the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and that night the U.S and Japan began communicating and the Japanese accepted the terms on August 14th 1945.
...pare the second bomb. Only later, when evidence was found on plutonium based bomb that they had decided to surrender, without the second bomb it’s believed that they would have fought on. When the atomic bomb was dropped, it actually impressed the Soviets who were needed as an important strategic consideration. Another reason to drop the atomic bomb was to show Americas might and authority over other countries.
The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan were ethical decisions made by President Harry Truman and the United States government. By the time of the atom bomb was ready, the U.S. had been engaged in military conflict for over four years and lost over 400,000 soldiers. Truman claimed, "We would have the opportunity to bring the world into a pattern in which the peace of the world and our civilization can be saved" (Winkler 18). The bomb was aimed at ending the war immediately and avoiding prolonged battle in the Pacific Theater and the inevitable invasion of Japan. President Truman hoped that by showing the Japanese the devastating weapon the U.S. possessed, that the war could be brought ...
Following Germany’s surrender to the Allied powers on May 7, 1945, Americans were hoping that Japan would surrender as well. However, after the Yalta Conference and promising the USSR many conditions if they helped America beat the Japanese, the Americans knew that they had to bring the Japanese to surrender before the Russians joined the war in two or three months. Then on July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb, a weapon that could guarantee Japanese surrender, became a reality when it was tested in the New Mexico deserts successfully, was revealed publically to Russia and Britain at the Potsdam Conference, and was used publicly just one month later on August 6 and 9 on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although some would argue
Dropping the bomb wasn't the right decision to make, because many people lost their lives and it wasn't right to make that move. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and on December 8, 1941 the president of the United States asked the congress to declare war on Japan. That’s what made the United States enter the war. When they attacked at that day, the Japanese destroyed 5 battle ships and another 19 ships. The United States kept fighting with Japan until 1945 and many Americans lost their lives while fighting for the different islands. The military leaders in America knew that this fighting will be for a long time and there will be more death, so they start striking them with long-range B-29 bombs. They even stroked on the Japanese main land in Tokyo March 1945. The president Truman was informed from the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and other scientists that the atomic bomb was ready to be use.
In consideration, Japan was given many opportunities to surrender and they refused even when the war was practically over and meaningless, as a result, the bombs were their decision and consequence. For instance the United States offered a surrender so the war could be over but shown here they refuse, “It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam. They promptly rejected that ultimatum.” This clearly shows how far and extended the war would of gone if the United States did not drop the atomic bomb and even then it took two bombs for the Japanese to come to reality and stop fighting. Without the bombs the time duration of war would have been long and bloody. Overall, the amount of lives and endless supplies for war would have been way more compared to the fast solution of dropping the bombs. Because of Japans fierce fighting, the bombs were the most reasonable and necessary option at this
Prior to entering World War II, the United States engaged in the development of the atomic bomb. This tool, which all perceived as the guaranteed method to victory, was initially intended to be used upon the Germans. However, development of these weapons outlasted the war in Europe, leaving the Japanese as the next target. It was widely accepted that the atomic bomb would be utilized as early as possible to avoid more deaths. The reasons as to utilize these weapons were not of an act of racism, but to motivate Japan to lose its condition upon surrender, insure Truman’s reelection, assure the world the US was capable of producing several atomic bombs, and to avoid communist propaganda regarding Truman’s actions. The significance as to dropping
Truman had thought through the possibilities and had decided that using the bomb would be the most effective and quickest tactic. As a president Truman had a responsibility to protect his country, citizens, and foreign affairs, so deciding on the best method to establish everybody’s needs was difficult. There were many things to worry about: fighting on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, bombing Japan, and building the bomb. His decision was mainly based on how the US citizens felt and the following actions of japan. Japan refused to accept an unconditional surrender, which was demanded by the allied powers in order to stop the war against them. On August 6, 1945 Truman allowed Enola Gay to drop the atomic bomb on top of Hiroshima and later Nagasaki to end the war.
Although WW II ended over 50 years ago there is still much discussion as to the events which ended the War in the Pacific. The primary event which historians attribute to this end are the use of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although the bombing of these cities did force the Japanese to surrender, many people today ask “Was the use of the atomic bomb necessary to end the war?” and more importantly “Why was the decision to use the bomb made?” Ronald Takaki examines these questions in his book Hiroshima.
Admittedly, dropping the atomic bomb was a major factor in Japan's decision to accept the terms laid out at the Potsdam agreement otherwise known as unconditional surrender. The fact must be pointed out, however, that Japan had already been virtually defeated. (McInnis, 1945) Though the public did not know this, the allies, in fact, did. Through spies, they had learned that both Japan's foreign minister, Shigenori Togo and Emperor Hirohito both supported an end to the war (Grant, 1998). Even if they believed such reports to be false or inaccurate, the leaders of the United States also knew Japan's situation to be hopeless. Their casualties in defending the doomed island of Okinawa were a staggering 110,000 and the naval blockade which the allies had enforced whittled trade down to almost nothing. Japan was quickly on the path to destruction. (Grant, 1998). Of course, the Allies ignored this for the reason that dropping the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would intimidate Russia. Had they truly been considering saving more lives and bringing a quick end to the war in Japan, they would have simply waited them out without the major loss of life seen at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
While many thought that the decision to drop the bomb was an inhumane choice by President Truman, it is, by far, the most practical of the decisions made by the American side. The main alternative that would have been used, if the United States had not of dropped the atomic bomb, would have been a full on invasion of Japan by the American forces. An example of this can be seen in the article “Atomic Bombing of Japan,” when the author states “Furthermore, proponents note, the main alternative to use of the atomic bomb being considered at the time was a mass invasion of the Japanese home islands. They contend that such an invasion would have been very costly in terms of U.S.