The Atomic Bomb Argumentative Analysis

The argument that explains why the United States used the atomic bomb is President Harry S. Truman; along with other policymakers argued that the atomic bomb would rapidly end the war with Japan and would save American lives (Bernstein, 94). Truman argued the atomic bomb could also be used as a bargaining lever and would offer the United States great advantages in the postwar world. (Bernstein, 95) However some decision makers argued that the invasion on Japan with atomic weapons would not be necessary for Japan to surrender. In fact, according to Herbet Feis, he states Japan would have surrendered without the dropping of the atomic bomb. (Feis, 67) Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, argued that victory was the only objective when speaking of

He argued that since other countries did not have this type of power the Soviet Union would be intimidated by the atomic bomb (Bernstein, 100). Impressing the Soviet Union was the secondary reason of why the United States used the atomic bomb. (Bernstein, 96) Since President Roosevelt had chose to exclude the Soviet Union in the plans of the atomic bomb, when President Truman took over he chose to do the same. (Bernstein, 95) President Truman wanted to trust Stalin, as he hoped for a postwar relationship with the Soviet Union. As Truman said in his diary on July 18,1945, Stalin wanted to cooperate with the U.S in peace but it would be harder because Truman was misunderstood in Russia and Stalin was misunderstood in the United States. (Truman, Discussed the Bomb at Potsdam, 56) According to Stimson, he argued that although Truman wanted peace he did not feel that our possession of the atomic bomb would change the way Russia felt towards the United States. (Stimson, Letter of Memorandum from Stimson to Truman, 1945) While the development of nuclear power was an advancement of the United States’ technological and military power it was also a risk for political and economic problems for the future. (Atomic Scientists Urge an Alternative Course, 1945, 52) Since the development of the atomic bomb was kept secret, once other countries learned of this nuclear power the United States would no longer be able to control it and could put the United States in danger that other countries might use it against them. The distrust of other nations could also be provoked making it more difficult to reach agreements. (Atomic Scientists Urge an Alternative Course, 1945, 53) However the United States was willing to take that risk to protect its country, to end the war and it