Isabella Esposito Doctor Young H6SX 4/16/12 The Atomic Bomb: A True Necessity In 1945, President Truman decided to use the atomic bomb against Japan in an attempt to end World War II. It brought an almost immediate end to the war and hypothetically saved thousands of lives. Without the atomic bombs, the Japanese leaders might have dragged the war out, refusing to surrender. Moreover, the bombings could be seen as falling in line with the concept of “total war.” The decision by the United States to drop atomic bombs on Japan was justifiable based on three factors: the desire to save American and Japanese lives, to end World War II quickly, and to demonstrate the power of the US military. Harry Truman,
The only real problem that prevented the Japanese from surrendering was the unconditional surrender the Americans demanded. The Japanese thought the emperor to be descended from the sun god and would protect the emperor at any cost. If President Truman had agreed to leave the emperor alone and taken more time to negotiate Japan’s surrender, they probably would have. Instead, after the testing of the first atomic bomb, it was decided after a few days that Japan would be bombed. Even if Truman had decided to use the bomb, there was no reason to bomb Hiroshima.
I do agree of dropping the bomb because it did save a lot of lives. Franklin Roosevelt was trying to find a way to end the war very fast. Then Truman had to end Roosevelt’s idea of winning the war fast. Truman wasn’t looking for a way to not use the atomic bomb. The United States wanted to end the war fast because we wanted the lowest amount of casualties.
They needed the Americans, and they used an ingenious tactic to cause the Americans to join the war: the death of its own civilians. The civilians on the ship, warned by the Germans, refused to listen to a warning, causing their death on the Lusitania. The total number of Americans who died represented a very small portion of the United States’ total population. The American public over-exaggerated the sinking of the Lusitania and overreacted to the death of very few people compared to America as a whole. The British blockade kept all trades away from the Germans, including food (Ghost Liners 124).Yet, when the Germans retaliate, the Americans hate them for it.
In World War two there were many battles fought. One of the most controversial issues for the United States was not even a battle though. It was the use of the atomic bomb on two Japanese cities. I believe that the US was right in using the atomic bombs on Japan. The Japanese planned a secret attack on the United States.
Even though “The American government estimated 1,000,000 lives lost in a war”, civilians did not deserve to suffer for the sake of others (Zenger). Imagine if an atomic bomb was dropped onto American soil by the Japanese to stop the war? There would be outrage and almost a certain chance of retaliation from the U.S. and from other countries. The only reason that the U.S. did not face such backlash is because it is one of the world’s superpowers and no other country would dare cross it, especially during such an intense wartime situation. John Hersey shows another example of the torturous effects of the bomb in “Hiroshima” when he
Many believe that the bombings were justified because it is said too have prevented millions of deaths that would have occurred due to an allied invasion of Japan. While others talk about how it ended WW2 and brought supposedly justice and glory too Americans and it’s nation. They have failed too realize that all of this is temporary and can or should be acceptable of the damage and facts that show more bad than good was done over history. The united States at the time states that they saved on resources which is true because dropping the atomic bombs they were fire bombing cities in Japan using up tons of fuel,planes,and bombs achieving the same effect as the atomic bomb and killing just as many
That is what a lot of people asked themselves and still ask themselves until this day. To put it briefly, Fussel’s argument states that war was savage for invasion forces and killing civilians of Japan was the only way to avoid a Japanese invasion. In complete disregard to civilian lives, he believes the atomic bomb may have killed many but that it saved many more. Walzer believes that dropping the atomic bomb was inhumane and that war is all about the choices that you make. Walzer makes many valid points that forced me to change
If you had been an advisor to Truman in the discussions leading up to the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, what would you have advised him and why? "The atom bomb was no 'great decision'“ -President Harry S. Truman. July 16th 1945-the day the Manhattan Project had accomplished its primary goal; building an Atomic Bomb. The theory for the Atomic Bomb was that the atoms in plutonium would rid themselves of billions of neutrons which, in turn, would split other atoms causing a massive chain reaction. This immeasurable release of energy would be the cause of the destruction of two Japanese cities, and perhaps America’s worst offensive move in the history of war.
Tyler Ayala-Turner US History AP March 11, 2015 Atomic Bomb Essay Question: “The United States made the best choice possible in using the atomic bomb against Japan. Agree or disagree and support your argument with evidence from the packet and relevant outside information.” While the U.S. evaluated alternatives to end the war with Japan, Truman ultimately made the best possible decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in order to avoid more unnecessary casualties of American troops. One reason for dropping the bombs was the fact that Truman’s options were very limited at this point in the war. In the end, the decision to drop the bombs did, however, create the desired outcome of Japan’s immediate surrender. (pg.