How Did Truman Make The Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb

Dropping the Atomic Bomb
On August 6, 1945, President Harry S. Truman made the decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Then on August 9, 1945, Truman ordered a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. These two decisions were based the war timeline, war casualties, the successful completion of atomic bomb testing, the war experience with Japan, and the political conditions related to potential Russian claims on Japan. The atomic bomb decision was primarily driven by the weariness of war. The scientific and humanitarian impacts arguing against the atomic bomb did not come until after the fact and in some cases not until many years later. The war with Japan and Nazi Germany had taken its toll on the U.S. and Americans were ready
for the war to end. The above factors were key, critical, and combined together, resulting in President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs in hopes of bringing Japan to an immediate and unconditional surrender. This essay will provides analysis of events leading to the U.S. entry into World War II against Japan, the events leading to the decision to drop two atomic bombs, and the post bombing discussion and analysis on whether or not the bombings were required and justified.
Following a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt declared war on Japan. Four days later Germany declared war on the U.S. (AETN, 2014). Between 1941 and 1945 the U.S. fought a two-front war against Germany and Japan. By 1945 the war had been going on for nearly four years and the U.S. had suffered many casualties. As the U.S. attempted to make its way to Japan, the fierce fighting by the Japanese in the Pacific resulted in a slow moving war and the loss of many American lives (Tindall & Shi, 2013). Something needed to done.
In 1939, German physicists discovered how to split the uranium atom (U.S. History.org, 2014). This discovery lead to the U.S. Manhattan Project in 1941, to design, build, and test an atomic bomb (U.S. History.org, 2014). On July 16, 1945, the U.S. successfully tested the atomic bomb in New Mexico with results even more devastating than originally predicted (U. S. History.org, 2014). The successful test set the conditions for the bombing in Japan. However, the U.S. was also learning the defeat of Japan would not be easy.
In the Pacific, the battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa were extremely costly to the U.S. in terms of casualties. These Japanese occupied islands were not an easy feat for the U.S. (Tindall & Shi, 2013). As the U.S. moved in on Japan, Japanese resistance became stronger and U.S. losses increased significantly (Tindall & Shi, 2013). It appeared the closer U.S. forces got to mainland Japan, the fiercer the Japanese resistance became in order to protect their homeland (Tindal & Shi, 2013). Prior to dropping the atomic bombs, the U.S. led firebombing raids which already caused significant damage to land and lives in Japan (Tindall & Shi, 2013). Still, there was no sign of Japanese surrender. Meanwhile, U.S. military leaders were making plans for a land invasion of Japan beginning later in 1945 (Tindall & Shi, 2013). However, this was not desirable, as it was estimated it would extend the war by at least another year with potentially over a million more casualties. Addionally, politics during this period also became a factor (Tindall & Shi, 2013).
Truman wanted to stop the Soviet Union from staking claim on any post-war Japan agreements (Yale Law, 2008). From July 17, 1945 until August 2, 1945, President Harry Truman, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met in Potsdam, Germany to discuss Germany’s postwar reconstruction (Office of the Historian, no date). From this conference the “Potsdam Declaration” was created (Office of the Historian, no date, p. 1). This declaration was an ultimatum to Japan promising “prompt and utter destruction” if the Japanese did not surrender to the U.S. (Office of the Historian, no date, p. 1). The Soviet Union did not sign the Potsdam Declaration and their intent with Japan was a concern for Truman. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin made negotiations difficult at Potsdam over post war Germany, as the Soviets also suffered huge losses on the WWII eastern front (Tindall & Shi, 2013). Truman did not want Stalin to have that same leverage on post war Japan (Office of the Historian, no date). These events contributed to Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs. However, on one could foresee the true results of that decision.
It wasn’t until after the atomic bomb detonations and damage analysis that the real impact of the atomic bomb would surface. The initial pre-bombing analysis for Hiroshima estimated 20,000 casualties (Tindall & Shi, 2013). Post bombing analysis showed more than 70,000 died initially, with another 100,000 deaths later due to burns or exposure to radiation (Tindall & Shi, 2013). The effects after the bombing of Nagasaki were equally dramatic. The excessive loss of life that would follow for years and the lasting devastation to the environment had a very negative and even fearful impact as the world had now progressed to the age of nuclear warfare. In arguments against the use of the atomic bomb, some believed the atomic bomb was only supposed to be used as a defensive weapon or to balance nuclear advancement with Germany (Barnes, 2013). Some also felt the bombing of Hiroshima was illegal according to the League of Nations (which the U.S. was not a participant) or racially motivated against the Japanese (Barnes, 2013). In arguments for the use of the atomic bomb, Truman consulted his cabinet and senior advisors. It was thought the bomb would save both American and Japanese lives, it would prevent another “D-Day” like loss, and it would shorten the war (Barnes, 2013, p. 1).

Conclusion
Truman initially made the decision to drop the first bomb on Hiroshima because he wanted to bring Japan to unconditional surrender and end the war.
After 4 years of U.S. fighting in WWII, the country was exhausted from the war and the loss of American lives. The completion of the atomic bomb testing in July 1945 was timely and its effectiveness was reassuring. Finally, Truman wanted to ensure the Soviet Union could not stake claim to any post-war agreements with Japan, as he did with Germany during the Potsdam Conference. The U.S. had learned from Iwo Jima and Okinawa that fighting Japan would be costly and lengthy. The firebombing raids which preceded the atomic bombs were already destroying land and lives in Japan and the potential loss of land and life by the atomic bombs were thought to be less. Additionally, the firebombing did not bring Japan any closer to surrender. The estimates of U.S. casualties in a ground invasion of Japan and the thought of extending the war for another year was not acceptable. Then, after the bombing at Hiroshima, Japan still would not surrender (Tindall & Shi, 2013). Truman did not make the decision to use the atomic bomb on his own, he consulted his cabinet and Churchill and Stalin were aware of the capability from the Potsdam conference. Truman’s decision to order the second bombing of Nagasaki was his last effort to put an end to the war with Japan. This was Truman’s final act causing Japan to surrender on August 14, 1945, ending World War
II.