Why Is Japan Surrend

Agreeing with Butow, Rhodes investigates the importance that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had on motivating Japan to surrender. The author advances the trajectory of the traditionalist arguments by affirming to historians the internal turmoil that Japan faced to surrender. Rhodes states that the turmoil between the government, military, and civilians led to Japan prolonging the war. Rhodes agrees with Butow by saying that the Japanese citizens felt that the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima placed Japan in a position of surrender. Rhodes moves the trajectory of Japan’s surrender to the traditionalist view of history with the citing of primary sources, which include several Japanese citizens, artisans, and governmental officials.
In “Why Japan Surrendered,” historian Robert A. Pape examines a new perspective on the topic. Pape’s new perspective investigates why the country decided to surrender when its military was still capable of fighting against an American invasion of the home islands. To examine Japan’s surrender, Pape focuses on three concepts that he claims caused the surrender. The concepts are the atomic bombings, the effect of the conventional bombings in Japan, and the offered terms of unconditional surrender. Pape reflects on Butow’s original thoughts regarding the conflict between the Japanese peace party and the militarists. Supporting Butow’s claims, Pape states that while the atomic bombings proved to be a “catalyst” to end the war, the emperor had the power to move Japan to surrender. Through the analysis of his findings and Butow’s arguments, the author can present an objective narrative of the surrender. Pape includes the combined military actions that the United States and the Soviet Union had on inspiring Japan’s choice to end the war. In conclusion, Pape considers that Japan chose to surrender because of the “military vulnerability” that faced them as the Allies closed in upon the home islands. Robert Pape provoked historians to analyze the use of the Allies’ military force as a cause and effect scenario that persuaded
In his book, Maddox argues from a traditionalist point that the atomic bombings proved effective in motivating Japan to end the war. Attacking Alperovitz’s arguments, Maddox states that Atomic Diplomacy’s portrayal of the events that led to Japan’s decision were “pervasive misinterpretations.” Maddox investigates the perspective of how the atomic bombs were the definite cause for Japan’s surrender. Studying Alperovitz’s statements, Maddox focuses on the revisionist view that the use of the bombs was “to take a firm stance against the Soviet Union.” Quoting Alperovitz, Maddox makes a claim that the atomic bombings caused Japan to surrender. Maddox argues that the atomic bomb allowed Emperor Hirohito to understand the destruction that Japan faced if they refused to surrender. In closing Maddox addresses the revisionist views on the atomic bomb and the end of war. With Japan’s surrender, the author states that revisionist such as Alperovitz created the notion that there was a “cover-up” on the use of the atomic bombs. Different from Alperovitz’s argument of future Cold War tensions, Maddox claims that the use of the bomb was a direct result of Japan’s refusal to accept the Potsdam surrender terms. Maddox’s historical examination of Japan’s decision