The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the United States naval facility known as Pearl Harbor. This attack brought the United States into World War Two. Within the four years that followed, the United States--under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt-- researched and developed an atomic bomb. This was known as the Manhattan Project. Such a bomb was more powerful and destructive than any ever known to man. After FDR died on April 12, 1945,
President Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the direct cause for the end of World War II in the Pacific. The United States felt it was necessary to drop the atomic bombs on these two cities or it would suffer more casualties. Not only could the lives of many soldiers have been taken, but possibly the lives of many innocent Americans. The United States will always try to avoid the loss of American civilians at all costs, even if that means taking
conventional warfare into the nuclear age. These ideals were the brainstorming of some of the greatest minds in America and abroad. These scientists began to formulate the creation of the atomic bomb, a device that would change the world in ways that had never been imagined before. The world changed the day that the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. This evoked a cataclysmic spiral in the morals and methods of how warfare would be carried out. Those in powerful positions felt that they were omnipotent
Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb ‘little boy’ on Hiroshima, 6th of August 1945, and later ‘fat man’ on Nagasaki, 9th of August, during World War Two was greatly influenced by several factors, such as Saving American lives, forcing the Japanese to surrender, preventing the Soviet Union from joining the war and various other smaller motivations. Truman’s motivations were very influential in the outcome of the war, and possibly even shaped the victory for the allied nations. The bombs did indeed save
Two bombs. Two cities. Three days apart. World War 2, beginning September 1, 1939, was a crippling global conflict that tore humanity apart in a vortex of violence and destruction. It saw nations rise and fall, millions of lives lost, and indescribable suffering on a scale never before seen. The Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) were fueled by greed, hatred, and a thirst for power. This clashed with the Allied Powers, (France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union) causing
decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified? A. Plan of Investigation Research Question: To what extent was Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified? This investigation assesses President Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will determine whether or not his decision was justified. This investigation will scrutinize the reasons that made Harry Truman feel inclined to drop atomic bombs over
President Harry S. Truman’s decision to procedure atomic weapons against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was simply one of the most debatable decisions in history. President Truman gave the forward motion to drop the atomic bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Noted Truman titled the bombings “The greatest achievement of organized science in history” (http://www.pbs.org). Truman targeted those specific cities because he thought that they were a key location for the armed forces
In August 1945 one of the most important decisions in history was made, to use atomic weapons on the island of japan. President Truman had to make a decision that would have a massive impact on the war. This decision was not taking lightly. Truman looked for other ways to end the war, but this was the fastest way to end the war ("The Decision to Drop the Bomb," 2014). Making these choices, he had to factor in Pearl Harbor, and lives lost in battle. I believe his choice was an ethical choice and
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Harry Truman and the Atomic Bombs Abby Garcia 02/24/17 Dual Credit History Sr. Wright Harry S. Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains a much debated topic to this very day and might not ever be solved. When discussing the topic, many unanswered questions come to mind. While a majority of people support and understand Truman’s hard to decision to drop the bombs, others just see it as an immoral act. Although
Roosevelt states “America’s longest serving president who had led the nation through the Great Depression and World War 2 was dead.” Truman made the right decision in dropping the atomic bomb on Japan, because he was under a lot of pressure to be like Roosevelt, he was new in office, and he wasn’t fully aware of what the bombs capabilities were. On April 12th, 1945 while in the “Little White House” in Georgia with friends and family, President Roosevelt suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage that killed
The atomic policy against Japan was closely related to the fear of Soviet expansion in Asia. U.S. leaders were strongly conscious of Russia’s agreement at Yalta to join the war against Japan three months past Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945 (Fogelman, 124). Among the U.S. invasion of Japan planned for November 1, 1945, U.S. officials were doubtful about the cooperative mission with Russia in which Russia would have power at the peace table. However, the successful detonation at Alamogordo had
1945, the U.S. created the first atomic bomb and was detonated in New Mexico through the Manhattan Project. The United States held conferences on initial plans on how to cause Japan’s surrender which included bombing them (“Notes of Initial Meeting”). In August 1945, President Truman made the final decision on employing two atomic bombs which were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki causing mass destruction and loss for Japan (Press). Truman’s decision to drop the bomb was justified because it was beneficial
Truman was justified to drop the Atomic bombs because of the situation at hand, but it is arguable because he had several alternatives. Right after America declared war on Japan, Germany had also declared war on the United States. Thereby, causing a dilemma for the United States nation as a whole. If the US didn't finish the war with Japan quickly they would have trouble backing up the allied powers. However, Truman could have found another way to defeat Japan with a less violent tactic. While Truman
States decided to drop the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. On that day the Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. Three days later the United States dropped "Fat Boy" on Nagasaki. 240,000 civilians, mostly women and children, lost there lives on these two days. On August 14, 1945 Japan surrendered unconditionally. Was it necessary? I believe that the U.S. could have used other means to bring about the end of the war. This paper will note a few reasons for dropping the bomb, followed by a discussion
American war effort, and saw atomic weaponry as a way out of the most monumental war ever. As discussed in Cabell Phillips’ book, The Truman Presidency: The History of a Triumphant Succession, Stimson was once quoted as saying that the atomic bomb has “more effect on human affairs than the theory of Copernicus and the Law of Gravity” (55). Stimson, a defendant of dropping the bomb on Japan, felt that the world would never be the same. If the world would change after using atomic weapons, could it possibly
The Atomic Bomb Helpful or Harmful There used to be a time in America when the name “Atomic Bomb” seemed fictional to some, non existent to others,and seemed only a dream to those in the science world. That time is long gone.The day that changed all ideas and opinions about what war was and what is has evolved to be was August 6,1945. President Truman had decided to drop the Atomic bomb in order to end the war and save as many lives as possible. The United States had dropped the bomb on
The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, on August 6, 1945. The world would never be the same. This paper will discuss the significance of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and how they led to the success of the Allied forces. It will also discuss how the United States developed the atomic bomb, the decision to drop the bomb, the weakening of Japan, the actual bombing an destruction of both cities, the surrender of Japan and the
Hiroshima and Nagasaki the untold story On August 6th 1945, the first Atomic Bomb, “Little Boy,” was dropped on Hiroshima, and three days later on August 9th 1945, the second atomic bomb, “Fat Man,” was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan’s industrial capital. The decision to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan was a poor one considering the damage, the devastation, and the amount of people left dead, injured, or suffering the loss of a family member or a friend, all for the sake of quickly ending the ongoing
In early August 1945 atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These two bombs quickly yielded the surrender of Japan and the end of American involvement in World War II. By 1946 the two bombs caused the death of perhaps as many as 240,000 Japanese citizens1. The popular, or traditional, view that dominated the 1950s and 60s – put forth by President Harry Truman and Secretary of War Henry Stimson – was that the dropping of the bomb was a diplomatic maneuver aimed
Why the United States dropped the Atomic Bomb The atomic bomb is the subject of much controversy. Since its first detonation in 1945, the entire world has heard the aftershocks of that blast. Issues concerning Nuclear Weapons sparked the Cold War. We also have the atomic bomb to thank for our relative peace in this time due to the fear of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). The effects of the atomic bomb might not have been the exact effects that the United States was looking for when they dropped