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Potsdam Declaration

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On July 26, 1945, Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender (Potsdam Declaration) was presented by the President of the United States, the President of the National Government of the Republic of China, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain. This Potsdam Declaration was issued to give Japan a chance to terminate the war by making them accept it. Then, the leader of the Soviet Union later signed the Potsdam Proclamation and decided to join the war. Although Japanese leaders had already knew that they would not achieve a victory in this war, they did not confirm the declaration until atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States and ended up accepting the unconditional surrender on August 15th of the same …show more content…

Even though he made this decision as Japanese government did not respond to the Potsdam Declaration, it was still possible to negotiate with Japan’s side without dropping the atomic bombs. In today’s American society, it is considered that his decision to use the atomic bombs enabled the country to save their soldiers. On top of that, Japanese government never raised any protest against the United States for the use of atomic bombs. Nevertheless, as Hasegawa (2005) states, this cannot be longer justified because it is more of a moral issue. More importantly, it is doubtful whether President Truman was sure about the effects of atomic bombs. If he were certain about how they could destroy the city, he might have not used them in Nagasaki soon after Hiroshima. Thus, the justification of atomic bomb dropping in Nagasaki is very questionable and President Truman was not a very rational diplomat who could apply the reasonableness in his …show more content…

Not only they could democratize and demilitarize the country, but also the United States managed to maintain its superpower and prevent the emergence of another hegemon. In fact, the American occupation of Japan was beneficial for Japan as well because the new constitution enabled the country to be more liberal and respect the wills of its individuals, resulting to be a good example of Americanization. Moreover, the United States did not exploit Japan during the occupation as they wanted to represent themselves as a democratic country and make it their value universal. Their occupation had a merit to maintain the social order of Japan because they kept the Emperor intact even after the unconditional surrender. The outcome might have been worse after the war if the United States decided to execute the emperor because there were still people in Japan who worship him as if he is their god. The democratization was also crucial in the maintenance of the international order because there is less risk that nations fight against each other if both countries are democratic. Therefore, the United States needed to make Japan a democratic country to prevent Japan to become its

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But he had no compelling reason to do so. The bomb provided a promising way to bring about a prompt Japanese surrender without the disadvantages of other alternatives, and in Truman’s mind, its use did not require a lengthy consideration” (Walker pg. 96). After the bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people decided that the bombs were actually required. The people thought that if the bombs weren’t dropped, thousands of American lives would have died while America invaded Japan. The problem with this logic is that many people died in those bombings.

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As stated in document A, President Truman believed that it was his duty as president to use every weapon available to save American lives. By making the decision to employ atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it successfully brought an end to World War II. Now, while these bombs did ultimately spare thousands of American lives, it did also put an end to about 200,000 lives as shown in document E. Document A stated that Admiral William Leahy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, opposed using the bomb because it killed civilians indiscriminately. He believed that an economic blockade and conventional bombing would convince Japan to surrender. As an opposite end of the spectrum though Truman’s advisor, James Byrnes thought that the use of “the A-bombs would not only cause Japan to surrender, but also impress the Soviet Union, and hopefully stop its expansion” (Doc C).

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According to Truman’s memoir, he states “it should be used without specific warning” (Doc 2). This evidence shows that the U.S. used the atomic bombs without warning because of the way Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Since there was no warning, it harmed more people than Japan did in the Pearl Harbor attack. To summarize, the U.S. used the atomic bombs against Japan as an act of revenge for Pearl Harbor. This act of revenge harmed and destroyed many lives of the

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Being the president of the United States comes with the responsibility of making tough decisions that aren’t always perceived as the best, especially when it involves the war. In 1945, President Harry Truman had to make a difficult decision that ultimately gave americans a leg up in the war. President Harry Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan in WWII is surrounded by much controversy but holds many positive advantages that helped end the war. Presidents Harry Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb posed nearly no significant dilemmas overall.

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With their need for natural resources, they believed that Asian countries should become one, and they thought that they would “together get better.” with Japans power hungry ideals they seized control of Areas of China which they remained in control from 1937 until their defeat in world war 2. As wars were being fought over land in the Asian countries, Japan was running out of materials. They knew they needed to take control of more land so they were able to hold strong against their enemies. Their issue was that once America got involved Japan would be destroyed.

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Afterwards, the United States declared war on Japan, and joined allies against the axis powers. The United States’ use of the atomic bombs is justified because it saved American lives; Japan was given fair warning, and their aggressions towards the U.S. The atomic bombs on Japan saved many American lives. Document 15 reads: The entire population of Japan is

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The dropping of the bombs were necessary and fair due to the refusal of the Japanese to surrender, the millions of lives saved by a quick end to the war, and the warnings given to the Japanese. To begin, the Japanese soldiers have it ingrained in their brains that it is dishonorable to surrender. The author of Drop the Bomb as agreed by saying that “the Japanese have demonstrated a willingness to fight to the death”. During the war there were many times for the Japanese to surrender, but it was never done. With this in mind, they would have continued to drag out the war, which shows that dropping the bombs sped up the war which lessened the casualties.

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There was a constant debt in Japan on whether or not to accept the Potsdam Declaration. One of the major things that the Japanese wanted was for the United States to recognize Japan’s honor and existence. If the United States continued to force unconditional surrender on the Japanese then, according to the Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, the Japanese would fight the war until the “bitter end” (Wainstock, 81). Ambassador Naotake Sato was willing to give into unconditional surrender as long as the United States preserved the imperial house (Wainstock, 82).

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After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, President Truman dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Since then, there has been arguments whether the bombs should have been dropped or not. President Truman’s choice to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was really the only option he had back then. Today, the bombs that President Truman dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is thought as a horrible event, but Truman dropped the bombs to save American and Japanese lives, and in the end, shortened the war. Before President Truman decidecd to drop the two atomic bombs, the war with the Japanese had no end insight.

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Japan had to accept unconditional surrender; if they disagreed with that request, America would drop the bomb. What made the Japanese surrender was the retention of their emperor; anything else couldn’t have forced a Japanese surrender, including the attack of the atomic bomb. As Japan's Prime Minister Suzuki spelled out on June 9, 1945. “Should the Emperor system be abolished, they [the Japanese people] would lose all reason for existence…. [and have] no choice but to go on fighting to the last man” (Butow).

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Was America Justified in dropping the atom bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945? On August 6th, 1945 at 8:16 AM, a great yet horrific event in history occurred. This event is known as the dropping of the atom bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, the event that would begin and end the pain and suffering of millions. The atom bomb was dropped by an American B-29 Superfortress bomber named Enola Gay and

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863 Words | 4 Pages

However, the Japanese were committed to fight to the bitter end of the war and see it all the way through, regardless of the fact that the United States demanded unconditional surrender from the small country of islands. This further emphasizes that since the Japanese were not simply going to give up, Truman came to the conclusion that in order to save millions of lives, he had to take thousands. President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Japan to warn the world about the new found power of the United States, force an unconditional surrender of the Japanese, and save millions of lives. With the controversy over whether or not Truman should have dropped the bomb, some consider the decision irrational and unnecessary.

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I believe President Truman was correct to use the bombs on Japan because there was only one other option, invasion. If the US

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President Truman and his associates believed that if they dropped the bomb they would receive surrender from Japan. Thus, saving millions of American lives, and ending the war. Nevertheless, by saving American lives they would sacrifice thousands of Japanese civilians. They had other idea to have Japan to surrender, but were willing to take the one that would have the most consequences. They were thinking too much about the US instead of creating actually peace within the nations.

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The idea of saving cutting casualties and quickly ending a bloody war in one display of raw power was tantalizing and irresistible. There is no question as to why Truman dropped the atomic bombs. It clearly had little initial ramifications compared to the copious amounts of advantages it offered for the Americans. Had Japan been given the chance to drop two atomic bombs, based on their behaviour throughout the war, they would have dropped them on American cities. However, just because the Japanese would have done the same to the Americans does not make it correct, but ultimately it justifies it.

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