Atomic Bomb Dbq Analysis

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Few events in world history have shaped the world in such a way as did the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan at the close of the Second World War. The decision to drop the bombs, one made my United States President Harry S. Truman, the newly sworn in commander-in-chief following the death of Franklin Roosevelt, has been one scrutinized not only for the sheer destruction of the act, but has also been scrutinized in itself for the actual motive of the decision. Was the decision to use the Atomic Bombs one to speedily and quickly end the war to save American lives? Or did Truman do his best to prevent Soviet influence in East Asia, to try and scare the Soviets from making any kind of territorial claims in Japan or her former Empire?…show more content…
In his own words, the American President: "…We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans…We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us…" (Document H) From the President's own mouth come the words he uses to justify the use of the Atomic bombs. Truman notes that using the bombs will shorten and end the war and save many, many American lives. He also speaks of the continued use of the Atomic Bomb, if Japan refuses to surrender, meaning that he had such a desire to avoid further war, he would stop at nothing to stop such war from continuing into the future. The argument that Harry Truman used the Atomic Bomb as a way to end the war and halt casualties, both American and Japanese alike, and to shorten and effectively end the Second World War is one that has been accepted universally as the reason for the end of the Second World War since it's inception. While it holds a lot of truth, it cannot be counted as the only reason Truman used the Atomic Bombs and authorized the utter destruction of two cities. New historical evidence now coming to light helps create a new picture of Truman's reasoning behind the use of the bombs - one that does not contradict his words, but simply expands upon…show more content…
The evidence itself builds up and shows the decision in dropping the bomb in another light, providing ample evidence for the reasoning of keeping the Soviets out of East Asia via intimidation by use of the Atomic Bombs. Taking it further, however, is it possible that Truman also sought to prevent further war with the use of the Atomic Bomb, and not just keep the Soviets on their toes? Scientists working within the Manhattan Project personified this opinion greatly in a Report to the Secretary of War in June of 1945: "…Those who advocate a purely technical demonstration would wish to outlaw the use of atomic weapons, and have feared that if we use the weapons now our position in future negotiations will be prejudiced. Others emphasize the opportunity of saving American lives by immediate military use, and believe that such use will improve the international prospects, in that they are more concerned with the prevention of war than with the elimination of this special weapon…" (Document
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