Japan After the Atomic Bombs: Comparing Nagasaki and Hiroshima’s Reconstruction and Its Effect on the Working Class
Ben Galligos
HS 3900
Dr. Samonte
May 10, 2023
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. Three days later, a second was dropped on Nagasaki. Between these two days, the world saw arguably the greatest events of mass destruction in human history. World War II brought great turmoil, death, and despair to nearly every nation, and one of the most devastating events of this war occurred when the United States carried out the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The use of the atomic bombs, each with more power than 20,000 tons of TNT, marks the only time in human history where
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“In December 1945, the Diet approved a Basic Policy for War-Damaged Areas Reconstruction Law, which set ambitious targets for urban rebuilding” (Blackford 142). In less than four months after the bombing, Hiroshima had developed a plan for reconstruction. However, the process of rebuilding a city is not a cheap task, and Hiroshima had very little money to do so. To obtain these funds, Hiroshima turned to the government. Like Nagasaki, citizens of Hiroshima wanted their city to serve as a reminder of the destruction caused by the bomb. As a result, officials from Hiroshima worked with the government to receive funding. In 1949, the Peace Memorial City Construction Law was passed that proclaimed Hiroshima as the city of Peace. This legislation included a large stipend for reconstruction of railways, sewage and water plants, libraries, and canals (Blackford 148). Now that Hiroshima had the proper funding, additional reconstruction could take place. The industrialization and reconstruction of the city created jobs for the new residents of the city. The increased work force helped stimulate the economy and strengthen the city