The Pros And Cons Of Atomic Bombing

I. Manhatten Project (C)before German & Japanese, Pearl Harbor opportunity, Japan already defeat, Hiroshima (70,000), Nagasaki (40,000), “complete destruction” “utter destruction”

a. Through many see the bombing as immoral, the atomic bombings actually saved lives of both Japanese and U.S. people, weakened Japan who wasn’t as innocent as many believed, and ended the devastating WW II.

II. Save many lives

a. U.S.A.

i. No invasion of Japan

ii. Many casualties: battles @ Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa alone

iii. Death rate 50-80%

iv. Save generation “ultimate collapse…” (G)

b. Japan

i. No military surrender, lack sympathy for people – Emperor Hiroshito

ii. Less people dead than from all out
war; 5x-10x ally casualties

iii. Complete, utter destruction if invaded

III. Weaken non-innocent Japan

a. Ignore warning (Potsdam, Germany) after 1st bomb, “opportunity to surrender…” (C)

b. Negotiation inevitable, kamakazi style: death > loss

c. Rape of Nanjing, China, Pearl Harbor (12/7/41)

d. Military area targets not high population (Tokyo)

i. Hiroshima (8/6/45) Nagasaki (8/9/45) – industrial area and military port

ii. “Maintenance of world peace…” (E)

iii. Deterrence- prevention of further Japan attacks

e. After 2nd bombing – 2 week time till surrender

IV. Ended WW II “speedily to successful conclusion” (c)

a. 6 years of global death and destruction

b. Prevent war on U.S. soil

c. Last major power to defeat, Japan

d. Worthy sacrifice end communism

i. Nothing to spread

V. 11/2/45 formal peace treaty- U.S. ship Missouri Tokyo Bay, end war or communism spread, “sent…clearance” (D), “peace…inevitable outcome…” (I)