But he had no compelling reason to do so. The bomb provided a promising way to bring about a prompt Japanese surrender without the disadvantages of other alternatives, and in Truman’s mind, its use did not require a lengthy consideration” (Walker pg. 96). After the bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people decided that the bombs were actually required. The people thought that if the bombs weren’t dropped, thousands of American lives would have died while America invaded Japan. The problem with this logic is that many people died in those bombings.
As stated in document A, President Truman believed that it was his duty as president to use every weapon available to save American lives. By making the decision to employ atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it successfully brought an end to World War II. Now, while these bombs did ultimately spare thousands of American lives, it did also put an end to about 200,000 lives as shown in document E. Document A stated that Admiral William Leahy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, opposed using the bomb because it killed civilians indiscriminately. He believed that an economic blockade and conventional bombing would convince Japan to surrender. As an opposite end of the spectrum though Truman’s advisor, James Byrnes thought that the use of “the A-bombs would not only cause Japan to surrender, but also impress the Soviet Union, and hopefully stop its expansion” (Doc C).
The death of numerous Japanese was the price for an end to the war and the ability to send Allied soldiers home-free. The bombs dropped were a strategic decision made by Truman himself to save lives, “We have used it in order to shorten the agony
1. Source B mentions that the reason for Truman dropping the bomb was to save American lives, but it was a speech to the nation. Source A transmits a completely different message. It mentions that “the end of Japanese war no longer depended upon the pouring in of [the Russian] armies.” They way this phrase is interpreted is that Truman dropped the bomb because he no longer wanted the help of the Soviets so he didn’t have to share the reward, which was Tokyo.
According to Truman’s memoir, he states “it should be used without specific warning” (Doc 2). This evidence shows that the U.S. used the atomic bombs without warning because of the way Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Since there was no warning, it harmed more people than Japan did in the Pearl Harbor attack. To summarize, the U.S. used the atomic bombs against Japan as an act of revenge for Pearl Harbor. This act of revenge harmed and destroyed many lives of the
If I was Harry Truman, I would still drop the bomb, if we invaded conventionally, they would have a much better chance of winning. I say this because you can’t exactly stop a nuke. Also they shouldn't have surrendered, they should have been smart enough to have spy’s in the Manhattan project, but because they didn’t, for all they knew America could have 100 nuclear bombs. If we had not dropped the nuclear bombs, the war would have been a lot longer and there would be more casualties on both sides. I would definitely choose to still drop the bombs because it stops the war and scares the Soviets.
According to Document G, a memoir of General H. H. Arnold, whether or not the bombs were dropped, the Japanese were already on the verge of surrendering. The United States had already killed about 241,000 people, wounded 313,000, and destroyed about 2,333,000 homes, making it increasingly evident that their decision to drop the bomb was just a selfish and easy manner to end the war. The document also states that the air force was aware that the destruction of most Japanese industries and the prevention of the arrival of the incoming cargo had made it impossible for Japan to carry out a large-scale war. With this fact, the knowledge of their increasing vulnerability was in effect throughout the military and the white house, bringing to light the leverage the United States had going through with the bombings. Overall, the decision to drop the bombs can be viewed as unnecessary as the U.S could have kept fighting knowing that
Afterwards, the United States declared war on Japan, and joined allies against the axis powers. The United States’ use of the atomic bombs is justified because it saved American lives; Japan was given fair warning, and their aggressions towards the U.S. The atomic bombs on Japan saved many American lives. Document 15 reads: The entire population of Japan is
It was partially necessary for the United States to drop the atomic bomb on Japan because Japan had no intention of seizing the war and the U.S. had a duty to protect the Americans, however, the atomic bomb killed many of innocent people. At this time, the United States were under attack by Japan. Japan had no intention of seizing the war so they did a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor killing many people. The Japanese people felt like it was important to knock out Hawaii because that's where the U.S. Air Force was located.
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.
Was the Atomic Bomb Necessary? It was necessary for the United States to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. Truman’s decision to do this was because of the american lives, the Pearl Harbor in general, and bringing an end to it all. This all began when Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor and, for precautions, the U.S. Interned Japanese people here in our country.
It is no doubt that politics evolve, as do the political leaders of our world and their individual viewpoints. Particularly their viewpoints on major global topics like use of the atomic bomb, and all other weapons of mass destruction. Out of all of the difficult decisions presidents are required to make, President Bush and President Truman had two of the hardest and handled them both in inevitably controversial ways, however these decisions shared both similarities and differences that affected the opinions on the use of all mass destruction weapons. In 1945 to 1953 Harry S Truman was president of the United States.
However, the Japanese were committed to fight to the bitter end of the war and see it all the way through, regardless of the fact that the United States demanded unconditional surrender from the small country of islands. This further emphasizes that since the Japanese were not simply going to give up, Truman came to the conclusion that in order to save millions of lives, he had to take thousands. President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Japan to warn the world about the new found power of the United States, force an unconditional surrender of the Japanese, and save millions of lives. With the controversy over whether or not Truman should have dropped the bomb, some consider the decision irrational and unnecessary.
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.
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.
