Hiroshima Bombing Persuasive Essay

One of the most controversial issues of World War II is the debate on whether or not the United States should have used an atomic bomb against the Japanese. People who tend to oppose the use of the atomic bomb tend to ignore, or are ignorant, of the history of Japan during World War II. One factor to consider is the treatment of prisoners of war and civilians in countries that Japan had conquered. Another aspect was the “never surrender” mentality of the Japanese military in the territories they controlled during World War II. The final point is the estimated number of casualties for both sides. Due to these factors, the U.S. should have dropped the bomb on Japan to save lives on both sides.
Some people believe the bombing of Hiroshima was unnecessary. They claim that Japan was on the edge of surrendering, therefore the United States had no right to bomb the Japanese. Many feel that the bombing was unjust due to the amount of civilians that were either killed or injured. One year after the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima, the death toll stood at 70,000 from those that died instantly and as a result of the radiation (Takaki 47). Also, 30,524 people were considered severely injured and 48,606 people were considered slightly injured
Children as young as thirteen were forced to serve in the their military. Young girls were forced to keep guard at prisoner of war camps. During the shortages, there were many young teen boys who were trained to take part in the war (Moss and Wilson). The boys went off into war with very constricted supply lines. Sometimes, the young boys were drafted into an army with no guns to supply them. All of the hardship was accepted by most Japanese people because it was demanded in the name of the emperor through the military leaders and prime minister, Hideki Tojo, who called on the Japanese to fight the death for their homeland (Moss and