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The Pros And Cons Of Atomic Bombing

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On August 6, 1945 the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped over the Japanese city of Hiroshima by an American B-29 bomber. This bomb as well as the second atomic bomb dropped on August 9, 1945 over the Japanese city of Nagasaki killed a combined 150,000 people on impact. Although these bombs killed an immense number of people, it was still better than continuing the war and allowing another country to attempt an atomic bombing on the US. Although there were many reasons to drop the atomic bomb, the most influential were that Japan was not going to surrender and there were no strong alternatives that would have had the same final effect on the war. America’s atomic bombing of Japan was the best action available because there were no strong …show more content…

According to The Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, “Although it is apparent that there will be more casualties on both sides in case the war is prolonged, we will stand united as one nation against the enemy if the enemy forcibly demands our unconditional surrender” (Foreign). The Japanese knew that prolonging the war would only lead to widespread death, but their immense pride would have led to them standing together and fighting until they could not fight anymore. Had the US simply shown a demonstration of the bomb’s power or continued to invade, Japanese forces would have continued to fight back. The bomb was needed because it was the only way to completely dash the spirits of their proud country. Seeing as the Japanese army had about 5 million men deployed around the world at the time of the bombing, they were expected to fight until the end in all areas of the Far East under its control (Stimson). Japan’s armed forces had millions of men around the world ready to give their lives to protect their countries pride, and if America had invaded Japan, they would have risked a potential attack on ally grounds from these deployed troops. Rather than invading or showing a demonstration, dropping the atomic bomb was the one thing that would have caused an immediate surrender. Since there was no chance of Japan surrendering, the only option America had to end the war was to drop the atomic

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They were putting pressure on Japanese government, who are in Tokyo, which is eastern part of Japan to surrender. Japan surrendered soon after attacks of atomic bombs. America’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan was correct because the Operation Downfall would have resulted more casualties, it ended the war quickly, and it provided information on how to react to atomic bombs in future. To begin with, there would be more casualties if Americans didn’t drop the atomic bombs. Operation Downfall, back up plan of atomic bombs, would have caused more casualties to both Japanese and American soldiers based on estimation of death by battle of Iwo Jima (Source3)． Also, Japanese would follow code of Bushido, and ritual suicide to prevent from surrendering (Source 5)．Although if Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not bombed by atomic bombs, these two places would firebomb anyway (Internet).

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The Japanese were ruthless and brutal when it came to their militaristic decisions and motives. Dropping the atomic bomb was our final hope in stopping them from performing further harm. Either way, lives were going to be taken. The question we must ask ourselves is whether we wanted those lives to be those of Americans or the Japanese. President Truman had to make a vital decision, and using nuclear warfare was the only way to stop Japan without killing American soldiers.

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The Japanese military was weak and did not have a good chance of winning the war, but that did not stop them from surrendering. “After the Hiroshima attack, a faction of Japan’s supreme war council favored acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, but the majority resisted unconditional surrender” (Japan Surrenders). The Japanese wanted to fight until death. The U.S. dropped bombs in Tokyo killing thousands of people and almost destroying the whole city. The U.S. was surprised they did not give up.

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President Truman once said, "America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. " He was the current president during the last years of WW II. By 1945, the only axis power remaining in the war was Japan. The other main axis power, Germany, had just surrendered, leaving Japan to fight America in the Pacific.

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Japan was weakening, “The food situation gradually becoming worse and worse…” Stated in source H. America had many industrial resources to use against Japan and so Japan had essentially been defeated. Japan pushed only for the sake of their countries honour as the shame of unconditional surrender goes against their code of honour. Furthermore a warning was given to Japan with America promising to drop the atomic bomb, however there was no evidence and so it could have easily been deemed a bluff. An American nuclear scientist stated, “A demonstration of the bomb best be made… Japan could then be asked to surrender.” This source seems somewhat reliable as it is from one of the American scientists and they would know the strength of the bomb.

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Japan wanted to keep going with war, but all of the other countries wanted war to end. America decided that the A bomb was a perfect way to end the war, and having the power, they used it. Some might say that America was controlling Japan, and making them seem like less of a country, but Japan wanted to keep fighting, and the Allied powers wanted the war to end. After America bombed Japan, the war ended because Japan was keeping the war going. America respected Japan and all of their rights, according to the Proclamation Defining Terms for the Japanese surrender, “Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established.”

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If they dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, they would not have to worry about them fighting back and would not have to keep making more weapons just to defeat the Japanese. It is expensive to manufacture weapons over and over, dropping the atomic bomb would just be a one time thing and it would save time as well. Also, If the Americans and Japanese fought on the island of Kyushu, then more Americans would die as well, if they dropped the atomic bomb then lots of lives would be saved. Also, Nicholas Kristoff said that military officials were likely to fight on, furiously, until the end willing to "Sacrifice 20 million Japanese lives," as late as August of 1945.” (Doc. I)

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In 1945 the United States was faced with an extremely difficult decision, this decision would bring a beginning to the “nuclear age” and end world war 2 but was it worth it. The decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan is thought to have been done to prevent the loss of an estimated 200,000 American troops; the bombs were an alternative to occupation/invasion . The first crucial point to consider is the alternative options available to the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific Theater; the two primary Alternatives were a full-scale invasion of Japan or a Prolonged blockade. Both of these options would have likely resulted in Far higher casualties on both sides and an invasion of Japan would have exposed countless soldiers to brutal Warfare, leading to a catastrophic loss of life.

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“On august 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45) an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing a total of over 120,000.” [History.com] Today, it is highly debated whether it was necessary for the US to drop the atomic bomb. I believe dropping the atomic bomb was the right decision for the United States. The reasons for this stance will be argued under the topics of self-defense and limiting total damage.

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In order to end an agonizing war, the Americans felt it necessary to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, as “conventional weapons” were not as effective as needed. Once and for all the Americans hoped to pull the rug under the Japanese and stop them from standing up once more to fight a terrible war. The attack on Pearl Harbor lead to escalating tensions between America and Japan. Finally, the atomic bomb was used to save more lives than it took. Although there is no way to know how many more soldiers would have died if the atomic bombs were not dropped, there most likely would have been millions more lying dead at the end of war.

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In the twentieth century, the United States dropped two atomic bombs, which were the most powerful weapons at that time, on Japan. It happened on August 6 and August 9, 1945. The atomic bombs killed 226,000 Japanese and ended the war. However, America should not have dropped the atomic bombs for two reasons. First, it was not necessary to drop the bomb to win the war militarily or to get the Japanese to surrender.

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Dropping this bomb caused thousands of innocent lives to be lost and even more so people to be injured but live. As said in the text,” it killed about 160000 people and 80% of the cities buildings…(nagasaki) the death toll there was less but still over 100000”. The problem was America was already kicking a horse that was down. Japan had already been almost defeated and the bomb was just a huge overkill. Even admiral Ernest King argued, “ if we had been willing to wait...

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As a matter of fact the government knew that “Japan was essentially defeated and that we could win the war in another six months”(D). There was no real reason to drop the bomb on Japan. They just can 't continue the war because their country would fall deeper into depression. Japan was too weak and the atom bombs was just a big screw you by the

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The Atomic Bomb Was Necessary On August 6, 1945, the United States of America dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan in Hiroshima. After Japan refused to surrender, on August 9, 1945, the United States dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. These two bombs created a catastrophe and killed more than 129,000 people. Not all of these people were killed instantly, they died over a period of time from radiation and other injuries.

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President Truman and his associates believed that if they dropped the bomb they would receive surrender from Japan. Thus, saving millions of American lives, and ending the war. Nevertheless, by saving American lives they would sacrifice thousands of Japanese civilians. They had other idea to have Japan to surrender, but were willing to take the one that would have the most consequences. They were thinking too much about the US instead of creating actually peace within the nations.

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