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The Pros And Cons Of Dropping The Atomic Bomb

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Dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was essential as it provided a way to control Russia, ensured the end of the war, and allowed the U.S. to save hundreds of thousands of American lives, yet Japan was on the brink of collapse so planning regular military actions might have been the better solution. There was no need to use the atomic bombs on Japan because it was already on the brink of collapse. The U.S. had already done bombing runs and continuously at that. On top of that Japan’s resources were dwindling due to the control that the U.S. had over imports. Japan also had to deal with a different issue relating to the Soviet Union. The article, Choices: Truman Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, declares, “Continuing American bombing …show more content…

That being patience, The U.S. would have to wait a fairly long time for all of these plans to actually work. Japan’s forces were relentless when it came to surrendering, they would go as far as enrolling citizens no matter their age or suicide bombing (Kamikaze). Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan would not only end the war but fix many additional issues that the U.S. were facing. As well as potentially saving hundreds of thousands of American lives compared to the conventional war plan. In Choices, Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, it notes, “The interim Committee additionally concluded that using the atomic bomb to end the war would make the Soviet Union ‘more manageable in the postwar world.”(pg.63) By being the first ones to create and use atomic bombs, the U.S. was placed in an area of great power. They had control over a devastating power that could entice the Soviet Union to tread lightly as sort of a failsafe for the United States. The Japanese were known as a nation that never gave up though. The article, Choices, Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, additionally declares, “... members of the Japanese government and military leadership strongly opposed surrendering. They argued that Japan should accept ‘the honorable death of a hundred million’ rather than give up. They moved ahead with plans for defending the homeland including the use of 350,000 troops, preparing thousands of pilots and planes for kamikaze attacks, and mobilization of civilians, including women..”(pg.65) Japan’s resilience to surrender could be harmful to the United States. Japan was going as far as fighting to the death rather than accepting defeat and giving up, as well as enrolling regular citizens to fight for them. This sheer will to not surrender made fighting the Japanese on their soil especially challenging for the U.S. troops. If the U.S. were to not use the bomb and continue with invasion plans, U.S. lives would be

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