In an attempt to get Japan to surrender to the Allies, in August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the nation. The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and the second on Nagasaki. Although these bombs did contribute to Japan’s surrender and the end of the war, the use of this atomic weapon was an irrational and horrible decision. The United States should have abstained from using the two atomic bombs on Japan for the sake of civilian lives and possible alternatives to their decision. These bombs not only had detrimental effects on Japan, they also led to an arms race amongst several nations. To begin, these bombings were unjustified based on the moral principles the United States broke. In Document D, readers are told one survivor’s experience the day of the Hiroshima attack and the hysteria the bomb caused. The survivor confirms the dangerous smoke, dust, and debris in the air and the suffering residents went through. These bombs caused pregnant women to birth babies with birth defects, radiation exposure, and an increase in cancer rates in the nation (Counting the Dead). In Document G, the Commander of the U.S. Army Air Force at the time discusses other effects the bombs caused, like hundreds of thousands of deaths, a greater number of wounded …show more content…
According to Document B, the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was against utilizing the bomb since he felt an economic blockade and conventional bombing could get the nation to back out. Although damage still would have occurred due to the conventional bombing, there would not have been such a large death toll and other severe effects. The United States could have also waited a little longer since, according to Document G, Japan was already on the verge of giving in. Therefore, the United States should have considered all their options before going through with such devastating