Preview

Was Harry Truman Justified Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
780 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Was Harry Truman Justified Essay
President Harry Truman is justified for sending atomic bombs from the United States to Japan civilian cities. Two parts of Japan in particular named Hiroshima and Nagasaki were targeted to kill off the civilians. The bombs were supposed to target a certain range of people, the hiroshima ranged from 90,000 to 146,000 and the Nagasaki ranged from 39,000 to 80,000 deaths. These bombs initiated the action of surrender from Japan and this happened on August 15, 1945. There are documents that prove Harry Truman should be justified for the participation in winning the war for the United States. A Japanese slogan that was made in the summer of 1945 is stated in document 1. It states, “The sooner (the americans) come, the better… One hundred million …show more content…
Truman were written in 1955 presented in document 2. The memoir was about his participation in the war and his remembrance of the past event. Although, some may say he could have forgotten serious events, he was in the war so it was most likely a tragic moment. Majority of people do not forget a tragic moment in life that could destroy your future. Another memoir from document 4 was written earlier by the Secretary of War Henry Stimson in 1947. This man was known for having good knowledge of the war because, he chose the least terrible bomb to use considering the war was almost over. This means that not many innocent people would die and most of the civilians would only be attacked. The decision to use the bomb brought death to over a hundred thousand Japanese but also put an end to the war. America was going to do what they had to do. In order to protect the country from japan's threats, the had to use defense and send over bombs. General H. H. Arnold from document 6 was the commander of the american army air force wrote in 1949 about the result of the two atomic bombs. He claims that the bombs would have never been sent over if Japan would have surrendered. The bombs collapsed large-scale mines, which prevented cargoes of dangerous items. Japan saw it coming and many people would not have been injured or killed if they would not have shown threats and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Truman, as he saw the attack of okinawa in 1944 witnessed how the Japanese would not surrender, they had to capture all 100,000 Japanese soldiers on the island (peace and war book page 152 by Ben Walsh). This lead to the US dropping almost 2000 tons of incendiary grenade from B 29 planes which ensured the US a victory for Truman. Although the Japanese were losing the pacific war, the fire bombs failed to persuade Japan to surrender which made Harry Truman’s decision to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From the information given to Harry Truman of how the Japanese were not willing to surrender, dropping of the atomic bomb was justified as he did it in order to shorten the agony of war and to save American lives. Based on the choices given, Truman had to take the least costly option which was to use this bomb. Furthermore, the bomb was an approach to end Japanese brutality on the asian countries they have colonized. In retrospect, many historians have criticized him as the Japanese were rumoured to be ready to surrender prior to the use of the Atomic…

    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Did Truman Choose Ww2

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first reason why President Truman made the correct choice was because war ended much faster. This war ended much faster because in wars, usually there’s not much damage but this war caused a lot of destruction and there were lots of deaths in seconds. These deaths were caused by radiation and “black rain” after the bomb exploded. Radiation makes a…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays
    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During World War II, the Japanese and Americans were at war. Japan had an advantage over American military troops with a greater number of troops being put out into the war. On the other hand, American troops and military bases had a technological advantage, which ultimately helped the Americans succeed during the war. President Truman made one of the most difficult decisions in American history. Truman’s decision would kill many Japanese soldiers but would save many of the Americans. An atomic bomb would be the last resort, which would wipe out countless miles of land, military bases, and anyone who was close by. As Truman had to think about the pros and cons of this decision, it was ultimately Truman’s say so in whether to proceed and…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    BREAKING NEWS- President Truman had been warned about invading Japan, and the terrific casualties they were capable off. However since they were afraid of attacking our soil, he ordered for a weapon large enough and powerful enough in hopes of bringing this all to an end. On August 6th, 1945 a five ton-bomb was dropped in the city of Hiroshima, Japan. The bombing killed 80,000 people; the city wasn’t left in great shape as well. Although the devastating outcome, we believe that this is the last of the feuding between them and us. (P.2, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima). The atomic bombs are scary, and threating to all nations. Sadly we believe this has both ended problems we have been facing, but also…

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    DBQ Atomic Bomb

    • 639 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Although there were attempts at peace, Japan showed no signs of agreement towards a peaceful and unconditional surrender. Japan’s reluctance to stop fighting could have left to months more of fighting and thousands of more deaths. The atomic bomb ensured an enormous display that could quickly end the war. As Cuhrchill proclaimed, “the end of the Japanese war no longer depended upon the pouring in of their armies for the final and perhaps protracted slaughter… this nightmare picture [has] vanished… in its place the vision of the end of the whole war in one or two violent shocks” (Doc E). Churchill summed up the gist of America’s reasoning for implementing the bombs. The United States did not have to depend on the slaughter of millions of people in bloody, messy fights, and , instead, “a speedy end to the Second World War” could be reached with one machine (Doc E). However, once the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the Japanese continued to resist. It wasn’t until a second bomb was dropped that Japan surrendered with a simple stipulation that their emperor remain in his position. This alone proves the military necessity of the bombs. Despite the attack on Hiroshima, Japanese still wished to continue their war. If not for the second bomb, who know how many lives would have been lost.…

    • 639 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Harry Truman Dbq

    • 221 Words
    • 1 Page

    When Harry Truman found out that Franklin Roosevelt passed away he reports that “Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. Truman didn’t want it to be president. Through Roosevelt war strategy and secrets Truman stepped in made the decisions that led the U.S. to war with Japan by dropping the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers and was the only way to end the war quickly. Harry Truman was born May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. Truman was the President of the United States for not 8 years after Franklin Roosevelt passed away. In World War I, he served in combat in France as an artillery officer in the National Guard. After the war, he moved back to Kansas City in which he owned…

    • 221 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was a good decision. If he had not decided to drop the atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the war would have continued and more Americans, as well as Japanese, would have continued to die. Since the Japanese were using ruthless methods of war like kamikazes or killing themselves rather than be captured, it was hard to tell how far Japan was willing to go in order to win the war. Thus, Truman’s decision to bomb Japan is justifiable by the cause of not knowing to what extents Japan was willing to go. I believe Truman wanted to show the Japanese that the United States was willing to do anything to win the…

    • 125 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped the first ever Atomic weapon on Hiroshima, Japan. 140,000 people lost their lives, most of which were civilians. President Truman was in charge of this major decision, and he made the correct choice. The alternative solutions were much too costly for the United States, both in expenses and American casualties. Another reason Truman’s decision is justified was due to the declination of the fair ultimatum recieved by Japan. Also it was important to the well being of the world to keep the Soviets out of Japan. Dropping the Atomic Bomb was the most reliable and definite way to end the war.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan in August of 1945 was made by a complex group of technological, political and military influences. History has it that the bombs were dropped in order to save American lives by avoiding the invasion of Japanese homelands, at least, that was what President Truman told the American public at the time. “For years, this simple view has been challenged by a seemingly more sophisticated academic perspective that the bombs were wrongfully used against innocent civilians, did not genuinely factor into the surrender of Japan, and would have better served the war effort as part of a diplomatic “carrot and stick” package.” (Beason 1). Some argue that the first bomb may have been required to achieve Japanese surrender, but the second one was a needless act of barbarism. According to Admiral William D. Leahy, the President’s Chief of Staff, “The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war over Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender…” (Beason 1). However, I have many facts to counteract all of these criticisms and to support President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.…

    • 1290 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It seems that according to revisionists, Harry Truman had other alternatives to reach his goals. The atomic bombs were not the only means towards the surrendering of Japan. He had the option of going ahead with a conventional bombing or strategic bombing which would have a significant impact: if not more, a little less than the atomic bomb. The argument is that if he had decided to use conventional bombing or strategic bombing, Japan would not have had to go through dangerous amounts of radiation levels which are still producing abnormalities in birth to this day. Also, revisionists claim that Truman’s decision was motivated by USSR. Historians have argued the claim that Truman had an interest in impressing Stalin, since USSR was about to invade Japan. Japan had already been defeated and its military and air force was exhausted. Another reason for Truman to launch the atomic bombs was to cover for the Manhattan Project. The project was created to build atomic bombs and consumed billions of US dollars. To show, or rather create a façade of the progress, the atomic bombs had to be displayed so the Americans would feel that the money was put to good…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    U.S. President Truman was advised that 250,000 to one million U.S. soldiers could have died in Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of mainland Japan. In a study done by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in April 1945, the figures of 7.45 casualties per 1,000 man-days and 1.78 fatalities per 1,000 man-days were developed. This implied that the two planned campaigns to conquer Japan would cost 1.6 million U.S. casualties, including 380,000 dead. On August 1, 1944, the Japanese War Ministry ordered the execution of all Allied war prisoners if an invasion of Japan happened. This means that over 100,000 allied soldiers that would have been executed.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Truman's Ideal

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page

    Next Truman didn’t have another good alternative option to efficiently end the ongoing war. Countless members like Secretary of War Henry Stimson, also didn’t’ approve of the idea of using the nuclear weapon, however couldn’t find an alternative solution. The dangerous nuclear weapons “stopped the fire raids, and the strangling blockade; it ended the ghastly specter of a clash of great land armies” (Henry Stimson, Document 3). Again others argue that this is a crime against God and humanity. However, like mentioned earlier from the source of ethics the utilitarian approach back up our country’s decision. I agree using this destructive weapon to end a dispute isn’t ideal, but to an extent Truman had to lookout for our country.…

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    After the United States dropped the bomb, the Japanese surrendered only days later. In the end the bomb was a success which is why President Truman’s decision was precise and accurate…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    It is with profound lament I apprise you today of the grave predicament myself and my country faces. As you may have observed from previous reports, Japan’s situation is austere, deteriorating rapidly.…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays