Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Nuclear technology after World War 2
America's involvement in World War 2
Events that took place during the Second World War
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Nuclear technology after World War 2
Hiroshima. Nagasaki. From the bombing of Pearl Harbor to D-day, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be a triumph for the US by nuclear achievements and ending a war, but a tragedy for the all of the innocent Japanese victims. I decided to research this topic because I was interested in what happened in World War Two and wanted to learn more about this special occurrence. I believe this topic is important in history because when we need to make a decision of war, where thousands maybe millions of lives are at risk to prevent even more from being ended or even destroyed from the effects of it, we may look at this event and make a decision that will change history forever. The war in Europe soon affected Asia. Although it was not part of the European war Japan was an ally of the Nazi-Germany and Italy. The three countries had signed an agreement in 1936, called the Anti-Communist International Treaty. By 1949, the Japanese government was largely dominated by militarists, extremists in the army and navy and their supporters who wanted the armed forces to control Japan and organize Japanese society along military principles. They believed Japan had a sacred mission to conquer new territory to provide the natural resources that Japan lacked. In May 1941, the United States extended its “Lend Lease” program to China. In effect, this meant that China could buy arms and supplies from the United States on long-term credit. By doing this, the United States was confirming that it would continue to support China in its war against Japan. At the same time, talks between Japan and the United States began in Washington, D.C: they continued for months. Most historians agree that the negotiations never had any chance of success because ea... ... middle of paper ... ...econd atom bomb, Fat Man, was sped up, and on August 9 it was ready to be dropped. Bad weather over the primary target of Kokura forced Major Charles W. Sweeney, the pilot of Bock’s Car, which was carrying the atom bomb, to divert the secondary target of Nagasaki. Clouds also obscured Nagasaki, but at the last minute, the clouds broke open and the second atom bomb known as Fat Man was dropped on Japan. Fat man exploded 1,600 feet above the city with an estimated force of 22,00 tons. The target seen through the clouds was several miles upriver from the original aiming point. Although the damage at Hiroshima, an estimated 50% of the population, died from the bomb in the next five years. Early in the morning of August 9, the Japanese was council met once again to discuss the possibility of surrender. The war council was evenly split over surrender. The war was over.4
In August of 1945, both of the only two nuclear bombs ever used in warfare were dropped on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. These two bombs shaped much of the world today.
...had hit him. Before they found out, they were hit again . on August 9 the fat man was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. It had looked as if the enemy was finally ready to surrender. the Hiroshima bombing became and remains one of the most controversial episodes in American history.
“Little Boy” and “Fat Man”, the world’s first two nuclear bombs were dropped in two major cities in Japan: Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 6th and 9th of August 1945. This “experiment” by the United States Government completely demolished the two cities, killing over 150,000 people instantly and nearly 50,000 people died from aftermath as well as radiation.
The main target of the US atomic bomb was the city of Kokura, Nagasaki was the second plan. On August 9, the American bomber B-29, under the command of Major Charles Sweeney,“took off from Tinian Island”. In contrast to the first bombing, the second one faced numerous technical problems. Before the take off, there was fuel pump problem detected in one of the fuel tanks, and still, the crew decided to conduct the flight as planned. However, after the team saw that the city had 70% cloudiness, which does not allow for bombing, the B-29 headed for Nagasaki.
Before the attacks, Hiroshima had a population of 255,000 people and Nagasaki was home to 195,000 people. When these cities were attacked, 70,000 out of those 255,000 died in Hiroshima and 42,000 out of 195,000 perished in Nagasaki. This means that the bombings whipped out 27% of Hiroshima and 22% of the Nagasaki population (Total Casualties). Continuing on, the bombing of Japan was also unnecessary due to the unacceptable terms of the Potsdam Declaration. After Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945, the U.S. created a treaty, called the Potsdam Declaration, with terms of surrender for Japan (Lawton).
This one was larger than the first and given the nickname of “Fat Man” as a reference to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Nagasaki initially was not a city targeted by America due to where it was located geographically. Nagasaki was located over a stretch of hills and valleys, and was determined to be problematic as the landscape would dampen the blow of the bomb not allowing the greatest affect to be reached. An article on the History Learning Site, “The Bombing of Nagasaki”, gave the following explanation why it was a secondary target as well as some of the presumed issues with it as a target for attack. “Nagasaki was a major shipbuilding city and a large military port. But it was not a favored target as it had been bombed five times in the previous twelve months and any damage caused by an atomic bomb would have been difficult to assess. Also, the way Nagasaki had grown as a port meant that the impact of a powerful bomb might be dissipated as the city had grown across hills and valleys (Trueman, 2000).” In the aftermath of this bombing it was determined that around 74,000 were killed and about the same amount of individuals were wounded. After Japan was struck these blows by America it surrendered to the Allies shortly after on the 14th of
“My God, what have we done?” were the words that the co-pilot of Enola Gay wrote in his logbook after helping drop two bombs, one in Hiroshima and one in Nagasaki, that killed an estimated two-hundred thousand individuals. The bombings were completely unnecessary. Japan was already defeated because they lacked the necessary materials to continue a world war. The Japanese were prepared to surrender. There was no military necessity to drop the atomic bombs nor is there any factual information stating that the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were dropped to “save the lives of one million American soldiers.” The United States bombed Japan in August of 1945. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were uncalled for and could have been avoided.
When looking at the aftermath of the atomic bomb in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima the devastation it caused is evident. The majority of the population in Japan could have never imagined such a catastrophic event. On August 6, 1945 and August 9, 1945 massive amounts of lives were changed forever when an atomic bomb fell from the sky and created an explosion as bright as the sun. These two bombs were the first and only accounts of nuclear warfare. (“Atomic Bomb is…”) The impact that the two bombs left on the cities of Japan was tremendous. The bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima devastated the country through structural damage, long term medical effects, expenses, and the massive loss of life.
As World War 2, came to a close, The United States unleashed a secret atomic weapon upon the enemy nation of Japan that was quickly recognized as the most powerful wartime weapon in human history. They completely destroyed the entire Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and essentially vaporized countless innocent Japanese lives. Some historians believe that it was a foolish, brutal decision to use the atomic bomb on a weakened Japan, and that the civilians of the country did not deserve that kind of mass-annihilation. On the opposite side, other historians assert that dropping the bomb saved countless American and Japanese lives by ending the war faster than a regular invasion would have. What is undisputed is that this sad event dramatically changed the course of human history.
In conclusion, ever since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it has been a major controversial argument amongst many people throughout the world. The United States was the first and only country in the world to use this type of weapon during a war Using the bomb was a major turning point in the war and it changed the world forever. Many Japanese were killed and the two cities were greatly destroyed. Besides the negative effects, the positive effects were that American and Japanese lost less people than they would have with a land invasion and the war ended quickly with Japan’s surrender as planned. The United States was justified in taking this action because the goals of the bomb were accomplished although the aftermath was dreadful.
Japan will never forgotten the day of August 6 and 9 in 1945; we became the only victim by the atomic bombs in the world. When the atomic was dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was World War II. The decision of dropping the atomic bombs was affected by different backgrounds such as the Manhattan Project, and the Pacific War. At Hiroshima City, the population of Hiroshima was 350,000 when the atomic bomb dropped. Also, the population of Nagasaki was around 250,000 ("Overview."). However, there was no accurate number of death because all of documents were burned by the atomic bombs. On the other hand, the atomic bombs had extremely strong power and huge numbers of Japanese who lived in Hiroshima
...the world's first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This unjustified act on behalf of the United States would become one of the darkest days in the history of the world. This day of destruction would also forever change warfare for the worse. The United States dropping of the atomic bomb introduced the world to a new class of weaponry, nuclear weapons. The first usage of the atomic bomb validated why the creators never wanted it used at all. The two bombs combined caused a total death toll of approximately 250,000 people by the end of 1950, while not including the many others survivors left suffering from radiation symptoms. The United States was never justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki because it was unnecessary for victory and it cost thousands of innocent people their lives, while leaving devastation to millions more.
“Little Boy,” the bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed 70,000 people with an additional 66,000 injured (30-39). “Fat Man,” the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, also carried its “share of America’s duty” by killing 40,000 people and injuring another 25,000 (30-39). The bombs also killed an estimated 230,000 more people from the after effects of the two explosions (30). The two bombings had opened the world’s eyes to the destructive power that could be unleashed by man. The bombs had raised hell on earth for those few minutes and produced a tremendous amount of casualties.
Japan had always been an ally of the United States. Japan tried to collect their share of treasure from Versailles. Japan ran into some troubles, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson rejected Japan’s claim to German concessions in Shantung. Duan Qirui, a Chinese warlord and politician had borrowed money from Japan to make China’s army stronger. Japan used that loan and wanted it to be repaid by getting the concessions in Shantung. In 1921, at the Naval Conference the US pressured the Britain’s to end their 20 year alliance with the Japanese. Japan was now isolated, Stalin’s unhappy empire to the north, t...
The atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima have a lasting effect on America by allowing everyone to see ...