The Controversial Decision: The Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb

The dropping of the atomic bomb was possibly the most debated topic undertaken by Harry Truman and the United States government in 1945. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, fighting in the Pacific reached terrifying levels as Allied forces systematically destroyed Japan. Despite how potent these forces were, the cost of human life was sickeningly high. This “problem” had a controversial solution- the atomic bomb. Upon becoming president, Truman had the final decision pertaining to the dropping of the weapon. His affirmative decision was justified due to the detailed planning, debate, regulation, and pure necessity that went into the decision as shown through primary source documents.
To discuss the possibility of the dropping of
the bomb, a special committee was to locate, research, and dissect possible bombing targets. The Target Committee listed all possible sites of detonations and proceeded to gather information about the targets. This information included, photos, experiments, weather data, and other general census collections. Weather was specifically monitored with the utmost care. Only the best scientists were used in these data collections and the sheer amount of data kept continuously pouring into government centers is proof of the extensive planning.
Multiple meetings were held and numerous copies of General L. R. Groves memorandum, which detailed the event, were sent to important figures in the discussion of the atomic bomb. The decision to drop the bomb was not a hasty one- planning began before May of 1945. Seventy accredited individuals in the field of atomic study were educated enough about the prospect of the event that they could send a petition to President Truman supporting the use of the bomb. Due to the planning the adjudged the potential damage of the bomb, the power of this new weapon was understood before its use against Japan. Truman’s statement that “it was the most terrible thing ever discovered” is proof of that. Reverberation, environmental impact, psychological devastation, estimated death tolls, and overall suffering was well known. The planning also extended to the considerations of various uses of the bomb against Japan. The U.S did not simply point a name on a list or simply see which location would kill the most people. They were strategic and examined every avenue of action. Civilian populations were an area of extreme debate due to ethical restraints as the devastation needed to be concentrated on a military
objective. The possibility of warning citizens was even discussed. A demonstration of war power outside of Japan for intimidation purposes was given merit until it was ruled to have less potential to end the war then a direct assault and have a disastrous moral effect if the bomb proofed defective. Also ruled out due to moral impact was the bombing of Kyoto. This city, which held the emperor's palace, was a precious position for the Japanese. Henry Stimson was the leading voice against this as he realized that the prominence of Japanese culture meant that an attack on the emperor would only increase hostilities. The Japanese would never surrender under those demonstrations increasing the loss of lives. Contingent on the decision to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the League of Nations regulations on the bombings of civilian population were considered.
The following of these regulations was an extra step that Truman did not have to take when making his decision; in order to still follow ethical guidelines and to end the war with as few casualties as possible he did this. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were military targets and clearly identifiable. The extreme planning meant that civilians would not be bombed due to miliary negligence and Franklin Roosevelt’s plea for ethical warfare was followed because neither city was unfortified. “Armed forces shall in no event, and under no circumstances, undertake the bombardment from the air of civilian populations or of unfortified
cities…”
Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was hinged on the idea that the bomb would provide the quickest end to the war with the least casualties. There had been massive casualties in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa which was intensified by the almost guerilla warfare and the kamikaze pilots that Japan deployed. The Bataan Death March, with its terrible treatment of Prisoners of war, had risen racial tensions and a “us or them” mentality arose. With this consideration one could further add that, the dropping of the bomb was a matter of political and national security. The Manhattan Project, which saw the creation of the bomb, was extremely expensive and a matter of national pride, The Soviet Union was becoming a powerhouse and the use of the weapon was a show of strength that would have a positive effect on America’s foreign reputation. The bomb’s original target was Germany but Germany had already surrendered by the time this bomb was finished. This meant that Japan, due to the heated war in the Pacific, was a logical target. Logical also it seemed, was the avenging of the attack on Pearl Harbor that the bombs facilitated This was a weapon that was meant to be used, so the completion of the war along with the positive correlation to America’s image made the dropping of the bomb beneficial.