Argumentative Essay: The Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb

The Dropping of the Atomic Bomb On the morning of Monday, August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan (“Harry S. Truman’s”). While it is presumably what caused the allies to defeat Japan, a lot of people are still torn, to this day, on whether or not the bombing was right politically, ethically, and militarily. A majority of the war was spent focused on the military; scientists attempted to make weapons as deadly as possible. The creation and use of the atomic bomb was crucial to the outcome of the war. President Roosevelt gave the development of the atomic bomb highest national priority. After Japan dropped a bomb on Pearl Harbor, the military was definitely not dismissing plans of attacking Japan.

Over 60,000 civilians were obliterated within only two minutes of the atomic bomb being dropped over the city of Hiroshima, and of course, any single person exposed to the radiation would have died sooner or later (Cayton et al. 827). This quote establishes a vivid description of what it was like to be on the receiving end of the bomb: “Birds ignited in midair; asphalt boiled. People over two miles away burst into crumbling cinders. Others with raw skin hanging in flaps around their hips leaped shrieking into waterways to escape the heat. Men without feet stumbled about on the charred stumps of their ankles. Women without jaws screamed incoherently for help. Bodies described as "boiled octopuses" littered the destroyed streets. Children, tongues swollen with thirst, pushed floating corpses aside to soothe their scalded throats with bloody river water.” (“Harry S. Truman’s”).

Buildings were destroyed; homes were devastated. Lives were lost; families were broken. The entire city was in complete ruins (if you could even consider it a city anymore) (Hayashi, Shigeo). The atomic bomb not only changed lives and the war, but it changed the war. From an ethical stand point, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima was not

Many experts, like scientists, illustrated their opinion to the president. “We the undersigned scientists… believe that the United States ought not resort to the use of atomic bombs…” (qtd in Cayton et. al). Renowned scientist Albert Einstein validated his beliefs on the atomic bomb, and he attempted to connect the cabinet to the scientists working on the bomb in several letters to President Truman (Einstein, Albert). The decision obviously weighed heavily on Truman’s shoulders. “…the future may see a time when such a weapon may be constructed in secret and used…with devastating power… against an unsuspecting nation or group…” (“Memorandum discussed with the President”). The Secretary of War also examined the decision very carefully and relayed his thoughts to President Truman (“Top Secret War Department.”). In the end, President Truman, of course, made the decision to drop the atomic bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was initially worried of how his peers would perceive his decision. The controversy following his decision did not begin until later, and his decision was initially understood (Cayton et. al). The official decision was delivered to the General on July 25, 1945 (War Department). The United States did all in its power to warn Japan. They ordered Japan to surrender or else; however Japan did not surrender, nor did they vacate their cities (Translation