poopp

Jessica McGough
Mrs. Fransko
Adv. English 2
1/16/13
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki “Should he order this devastating bomb to be dropped on Japan, a nation so close to defeat?” (Stein 40). Perhaps this was President Truman’s most agonizing and most difficult decision of his life. Japan`s plans to expand, led it to attack Pearl Harbor in December 1941 (US History World War II). This invasion made World War II an unavoidable event for the United States. The surprise offense on Hawaii made this country aware of the strength and power that Japan held. Ironically, a fair number of people urged President Truman not to employ the weapon because of the possible civilian deaths it could cause. These people were unaware of the three-million man army and a civilian population determined to fight until death that Japan had (Stein 40), without a doubt not a "nation so close to defeat". Those who criticized the bomb had very little understanding of the type of war that America was brought into. Numerous strategies on how to convince Japan to surrender were considered. In July, 1945, the atomic bomb became available. After a great amount of time contemplating, President Truman eventually decided to command the use of the atomic bombs. The explosives were dropped on two cities of military significance, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The first city to be attacked was Hiroshima, on August 4th, 1945. This area of land is located in Japan’s Inland Sea, on the main island, Honshu. This target for the first atomic weapon to be used was where the second general army was headquartered. Three days following the first drop of explosives, there was still no reply from Japan. On August 9th, America decided to repeat the process. The second primary target was a city with the name of Kokura, which held a huge army arsenal (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). Thick clouds prevented the bombing on Kokura, so the American navy resorted to their second choice of area, Nagasaki. This city is located on Kyushu, an island in Japan, and included a port with naval installations.
Despite arguments that still go on today, one can discover by research that the use of the explosives was undoubtedly appropriate and the most promising method to end the war. Japan is known for having much strength when it comes to war effort. With this, one can better understand why the bomb was needed to prevent the cost of American lives. Though there was much concern about the Japanese casualties, the dropping of the atomic bombs can be seen as a reasonable act of revenge on account of previous occurrences with Japan.
The Japanese military was indispensably strict. Indubitably, victory was extremely substantial. But more than victory was the religious nature of Japanese war effort. Relatives, ancestors, and the emperor of the land were to be highly respected, much more respect than the typical American expresses towards his or her family. Every Japanese soldier is, if anything, expected to die with honor. Any man who surrenders on the battlefield is seen as a pessimist by showing disrespect to his country, family, and ruler. A very strong Japanese belief is that it is better to relinquish life during war, than to surrender. It is known that there have been frequent mass suicides among Japanese troops that occurred during and after losing battles. Japanese soldiers who were seized were usually approached poorly. Captured men were accounted as animals and not treated like humans.
Numerous of Japanese have died or committed suicide in past losing battles, but that does not mean that they failed to try. Unquestionably, Japan consistently strived for victory, gave all their strength, and was over prepared for many battles. The country fought until the last man. Even the wounded were supplied with two hand grenades. "One was to kill an enemy soldier, including enemy medical staff, who approached them, and the other was to kill themselves rather than endure the shame of being captured alive" (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). This act demonstrates how the Japan military was overenthusiastic and brutal. These would have been the troops America would have faced if President Truman had opposed the atomic bombs and decided to side with a Japan land invasion. Ultimately, the United States sufficiently weakened the Japanese promise of "fighting to the last man" when they surrendered. Destroying the country 's words was just one method to demolish Japan 's power to make war and another reason why showing America 's technological power by dropping two atomic bombs was appropriate.
The decision to elect the explosives was extremely logical when thinking about the prevented American lives. President Harry Truman contemplated on an abundance of strategies to convince Japan to surrender. His first option was to continue what was previously ordered in Japan. Heavy bombing on Japan cities already existed, but the explosives would be intensified. Also, the Soviet Union, an ally in defeating Germany, was supposedly joining the war with Japan. The president considered anticipating until the Soviet Union got involved, and possibly Japan would surrender without a catastrophe. Next, Truman thought it was worth a try bargaining Japan 's surrender and allowing them to keep their emperor, Hirohito, on his throne. The last method was a land invasion.
According to the president, "each posed serious military, political, and diplomatic risks"(Scholastic Upfront Bomb Debate). Certainly, the forth option would have been intensely unfortunate for the United States of America. "An invasion of Japan 's home islands would risk one-million American battle casualties" (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). In July, 1945, the atomic bomb became available. This seemed to be the most assuring way the war would end, but at the same time, President Truman was in a predicament because of such world controversy over whether the explosive was suitable. In the end, the president’s decision showed that "the bombing was necessary to accomplish Truman 's objectives of forcing a prompt Japanese surrender and saving perhaps thousands of Americans ' lives” (Scholastic Upfront Bomb Debate).
Though this was not the purpose of dropping the bombs, the atomic explosives scattered over Japan can rationally be seen as an act of revenge. The Japanese was the reason behind America being brought into World War II, simply because of their attack on Pearl Harbor. The offense was without warning and a great amount of Americans died, including civilians. The number of American causalities from the attack was extremely ignominious compared to the insignificant amount of Japanese deaths. For those who side with the atomic bombs, the Pearl Harbor attack was another reason they believed the explosives to be appropriate, as vengeance.
President Harry Truman realized the horrible actions the Japanese have done to hurt the United of America. In a radio broadcast, following the dropping of the atomic bombs, Truman mentioned a few of Japan’s negative efforts. Speaking about the explosive, President Truman said, “We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, and against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare” (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). Perhaps after the bombs were dropped, Truman felt a bit regretful of his commands. After attaining and stating those words, it is obvious that the president felt that he had decided on the correct choice. One can only believe that he pondered on the fact that he once had difficulty on deciding something that was so obvious when he recalled past issues with Japan.
American considered plenty of ways for Japan to surrender. American even offered a few of these ways as choices to Japan. One would think that any alternative would be chosen over war, but this was irrelevant to Japan. As mentioned before, the Japanese belief was to “fight to the last man”, and that is what the country had planned to do. Others believe Japan was waiting in hopes of securing better surrender terms (Scholastic Upfront Bomb Debate), but on July 28th, 1945, the Prime Minister of Japan, Suzuki, ignored the Potsdam Declaration. The Potsdam Declaration gave Japan an opportunity to surrender without war (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). “President Truman warned Japanese leaders that they must surrender or, ‘…they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth” (Stein 41). This was the president’s method of getting Japan to understand that if there was no surrender, then there will be war, there will be revenge.
In conclusion, Japan did surrender eventually, on August 14th. In the city of Hiroshima, an estimated amount of 60,000 people were killed. Over in Nagasaki, approximately 40,000 lives were taken, and relatively 60,000 injured. The bomb radiation would result in leaving many survivors with possible cancer, cataracts, genetic, life-shortening, and fertility effects. Perhaps these results were an extra force for Japan’s surrender, along with the entry of the Soviet Union. Regardless of deaths, effects, and injuries done to Japan, the atomic weapons were unquestionably required to end World War II. The Japanese have plenty courage and strength in their war effort that it was certain that they weren’t going to surrender. During the time of refusing and ignoring America’s quest to compromise and perhaps arrange some sort of deal for the country to surrender, Japan was undoubtedly preparing for a fight to the death as a nation (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). With this in mind, the bombs were a fortunate thing when the possible amount of American deaths resulting from a land invasion is apprehended. If the explosives weren’t dropped, Japan would have control of the war. If, surprisingly, the war ended, it would be because Americans couldn’t fight anymore. Lastly, the Japanese surprise attacked and conducted numerous, other actions that were accounted as unfortunate to America. It was only logical that the United States retaliates with Japan; the use of the atomic bombs can easily be seen as retaliation.

Work Cited

Web Documents

1. Walker, J.Samuel, and Gar Alperovitz. "Was it necessary to drop the atom bomb on Japan?." Scholastic. The New York Times Company. Web. 20 Dec 2012. .

2. Bowen, James. "Was the atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 justifiable?." Pacificwar.org. Pacific War Historical Society. Web. 20 Dec 2012. .

Books

1. Wright, Mike. What They didnt Teach You About World War 2. 1. Novato, California: Presidio Press, 2000. Print.

2. Stein, Conrad . World War II in the Pacific. none . Berkeley Heights,NJ: Enslow Publisher,Inc, 2002. Print.

Periodicals 1. Hamby, Alonzo. "The Decision to Drop the Bomb." Organization of American Historians. 84.2 (1997): n. page. Web. 20 Dec. 2012. .

2. Beebe ', Gilbert. "Reflections on the Work of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Japan." Epidemiologic Reviews. 1. (1979): n. page. Web. 20 Dec. 2012. .

Cited: Web Documents 1. Walker, J.Samuel, and Gar Alperovitz. "Was it necessary to drop the atom bomb on Japan?." Scholastic. The New York Times Company. Web. 20 Dec 2012. . 2. Bowen, James. "Was the atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 justifiable?." Pacificwar.org. Pacific War Historical Society. Web. 20 Dec 2012. . Books 1. Wright, Mike. What They didnt Teach You About World War 2. 1. Novato, California: Presidio Press, 2000. Print. 2. Stein, Conrad . World War II in the Pacific. none . Berkeley Heights,NJ: Enslow Publisher,Inc, 2002. Print. Periodicals 1. Hamby, Alonzo. "The Decision to Drop the Bomb." Organization of American Historians. 84.2 (1997): n. page. Web. 20 Dec. 2012. . 2. Beebe ', Gilbert. "Reflections on the Work of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Japan." Epidemiologic Reviews. 1. (1979): n. page. Web. 20 Dec. 2012. .