The Atomic Bombs and The World The invention of the atomic bomb marked a major turning point in human history and today’s world politics. The atomic bombs were dropped in Japan by the U.S. during World War Two, resulting in the devastation of two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and taking thousands of Japanese lives. The motive for the U.S. using the atomic bombs was to force Japan to surrender. It has been decades since the end of World War II, and there is an ethical debate on whether the use of the atomic bomb was really necessary. The atomic bomb not only left a cruel history and scars on humanity but also opened the door to new world political issues, such as tensions between nations and the threat of possessing destructive bombs. …show more content…
After the end of World War Two and the detonation of the atomic bombs, the political and arm race rivalries between the United States and the Soviet Union began to increase, which became known as the Cold War. In 1949, two years after the beginning of the Cold War, an unexpected event occurred. The Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb. Initially, it was thought that only the United States was holding the atomic weapons, but it turned out that the Soviet Union also successfully developed its own nuclear weapons. This led to an escalation in military competition, and both sides started to create stronger and more devastating nuclear weapons. In 1952, the United States tested its first hydrogen bomb; the Soviet Union followed in 1953 with its own version. Some countries also started to build nuclear weapons for their security, prestige, and domestic political dynamics, and now nine countries possess nuclear weapons. Increased tension between the U.S.-led nations and Soviet-led nations resulted in shifts in international alliances, such as the formation of allies called NATO. NATO is a collective security organization between countries from Europe and North America that promises these allies are protected by the United States’ military power, including its nuclear arsenal. The members are expected to defend each other to enhance overall security and protection against various threats, including atomic weapons, from other countries, especially those who support the Soviet Union. As international tensions increase, concerns and fears over nuclear conflicts also rise, emphasizing the ongoing challenges to maintaining the world’s peace in the presence of nuclear threats. Through my research on how the invention of the atomic bombs impacted the world, I learned that the development and use of these weapons