Preview

Why Did The United States Drop The Atomic Bomb?

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1850 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Did The United States Drop The Atomic Bomb?
On August 6 and 9, 1945 United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, during the end of World War II. The two bombings, killed around 199,000 people, and until today has been the only use use of nuclear weapons in battle. Why did the United States drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and what was the aftermath? After the war in Europe had concluded when Nazi Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, and Hitler committed suicide. The Japanese, refused to accept the Allies demands for unconditional surrender, so the Pacific War continued. Seeing as call for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945, did not work, the alternative action was …show more content…
Although the reconstruction was a slow process, it was done within a couple years and people began to move back forgetting the memories of the past. The Americans knew what the bomb was capable of. However they underestimated it, and so did many other countries. Consequently many countries all over the world began to research and produce their own nuclear bombs, and today Russia and USA have more than 7000 of these bombs each. Many say that the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki revolutionized the world, for it subsequently introduced a deadly weapon to the world, on that in theory could bring the end to the world in days. In regard to whether the discovery of this bomb is considered good or bad, it with no doubt has caused an enormous change in the military and brought an end to a world war. The Hiroshima bomb is such an important event in the world history and will continue to be studied in years to go, as it brought an end to a large scale war and began and new Era not only to the Japanese and the Americans but to the whole

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    World War II was a global war from 1939 to 1945. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which brought the total victory of the Allies. Right before Japan’s surrender, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and another one on Nagasaki. The atomic bombs caused great damage to Japan and killed estimated 129000 to 246000 people. However, the bombings helped to bring the war to an end. Whether President Truman should make the decision to drop the bombs is still a topic to debate. Due to the fact that it was the best decision Truman could make, the bombs ended the war, and reduced the loss at that time, President Truman was justified in his decision to drop the bombs on japan.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harry S. Truman had to make some of the most difficult choices that any president has ever had to make. He was president from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953, he took over just before World War 2 ended, went through the Korean war, and went through part of the Cold war. When Truman took office Franklin D. Roosevelt died about three months after and close to the same time he had to make the choice of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan to end the war. Which to date are the only atomic bombs used in war. Truman had one of the hardest presidencies out of all of them because of all the decisions he had to make that have not been topped.…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the article, Ending The War Against Japan: Science, Morality And The Atomic Bomb, the author provides information on the war in the Pacific which involved the United States and Japan. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the United States entered the second World War in 1941. United States gained control of Okinawa in 1945 which meant that the U.S had control, in the months of May through August there were major air attacks on Japan, the Manhattan Project and the two atomic bombs the United States dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were part of the choice out of the many options that might have been given to President Truman and Secretary of War, Henry Stimson. They felt that dropping the atomic bomb was the best way to get the Japanese to give an unconditional surrender.…

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    After years of war and destruction, American soldiers and civilians were beyond weary and restless, yet the Japanese were steadfast and refused to give up their fight. Sworn in as the 33rd United States president, after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII. When Truman learned of the success of the “Manhattan Project” he knew that he was faced with a decision of unparalleled gravity. He was well aware that the capacity to end the war with Japan was in his hands, however, he was also aware that it would involve unleashing the most terrible weapon the world had ever known. July 26, 1945 President Truman, United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Government Chiang Kaishek, released the Potsdam Declaration.…

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    DBQ Atomic Bomb

    • 639 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In August of 1945, the United States launched two atomic bombs on Japan; the first, in Hiroshima on August 6, and the second in Nagasaki a few days later. Despite the obvious diplomatic advantage to implementing one of the most intimidating weapons of that time, the United States’ tactics and goals behind dropping the atomic bombs were purely military oriented; the political benefit was merely an added bonus. The atomic bomb was necessary due to the Japanese’s refusal to surrender and the hundreds of thousands of lives at stake.…

    • 639 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atomic Bomb Dbq Analysis

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages

    On the morning of August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Thousands died instantaneously while many more died from radiation exposure from the bombs. The use of the atomic weapons was unnecessary due to the fact the Japan’s military was greatly weakened and ready to surrender, thousands of innocent lives were sacrificed simply for political power, and there could have been alternatives to cease the war.…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When President Harry Truman made the decision to drop the first ever atomic bomb, did he saves lives or did he create a whole new Pandora's box that we would continue to struggle with today? After gathering facts and meeting with our Allies such as the Soviet Union, he believed that dropping the atomic bomb would make the Japanese surrender quickly saving lives in the long run. There were many factors that went into the decision that President Truman made. After the bloody battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, American soldiers and the American government realized that the Japanese would fight to the end. They did not believe they were "beaten" but they believed they were luring the American troops to their turf where they could fight a better battle in their rugged terrain.…

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Japan's empire had shattered, and Nazi Germany had just surrendered. President Truman had decided to drop atomic bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There' been a debate ever since on whether or not his decision was reasonable. Japan was ready to surrender and on the verge of collapsing. One could argue that the bombing was barbaric and unnecessary.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the mid 1940’s through the mid 1960’s, the United States was in its first cold war with the Soviet Union. It was considered cold because there was no outright fighting. The U.S. had been fighting to rid the world of communism, but only brought the communist USSR and USA together to fight their common enemy, Germany in World War two. The United States made a deal with the USSR that once Germany surrendered, ninety days after that they would declare war on Japan. The US had developed a nuclear bomb that would eventually lead to be the winning weapon of world war two.…

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During World War II Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and ruined many of our fleets and military. The decision on what to do to deal with Japan was a tough one. America made the right decision on dropping the atomic bomb on Japan.…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In December of 1941, Pearl Harbor was attack by Japanese air forces and after these brutal attacks the United States officially declared war on Japan and joined World War II. While America was fighting against Japan, President Roosevelt approved of the Manhattan Project which was the creation of the atomic bomb. The United States dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. After the bombs were dropped people throughout America argued on whether or not the United States should or should not have dropped the bomb. The United States should have used the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki because the Japanese refused to surrender.…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the start of 1942, the Manhattan Project, which was codename for the creation of the atomic bomb, began. The project was to create a high functioning bomb which caused mass destruction. As WWII came to a close, with Japan and the United States the only remaining countries in combat, neither showed signs of surrendering. Something had to be done to end the war, so the United States dropped the atomic bomb. It was justifiable to drop the bomb because neither country showed signs of surrendering and the war would have to come to an end eventually.…

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atomic Bomb Dbq

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages

    As World War II was coming to an end during 1945, the creation of one of the most destructive weapons known to humanity occurred within the United States. This weapon, known as “the atomic bomb,” was used on the two Japanese cities: Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in a death toll unprecedented by any military weapon used before and an immediate, unconditional surrender. Some historians believe President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb in order to intimidate the Soviet Union whereas others believe it was a strictly military measure designed to force Japan’s unconditional surrender. In the Report of a Scientific Panel of nuclear physicists, some scientific colleagues believed the atomic bomb was a “purely technical demonstration” to induce surrender. Other scientists believed that the use of the atomic bomb will improve international prospects in that they are more concerned with the prevention of war than with the elimination of this special weapon (Doc G). Thus, the United States dropped the atomic bomb to both force Japan’s unconditional surrender and to intimidate the Soviet Union.…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On August 6, 1945 the Enola Gay dropped its bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, forever changing warfare. The intent of the bomb was to stop the current war, World War Ⅱ, from escalating further. However, this resulted in another war after the bombs were dropped. This war was called the Cold War, and the war was fought between the USSR and the United States.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    After World War II, the whole world was waiting to see what would happen next, especially when it came to the new weapon being developed, The Atomic Bomb. This uncertain time was called The Cold War. This war was very different than the common picture of a war, close range battle, with trench warfare and heavy fire. The Cold War was fought over great distances, and according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, the Cold War was “A state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare” (Cold War). Following suit of other large nations, America overly publicized their atomic bomb, inflated the numbers of actual working bombs, and threatened to use the bomb again, in an effort to bluff Japan into surrender.…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays