Preview

Why Truman Chose to Drop the Atomic Bomb

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
895 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Truman Chose to Drop the Atomic Bomb
America's decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan was only done to assert our position over the Soviet Union, and Japan's surrender was only an extra accomplishment of the attack. During the years 1939 to 1947, numerous conferences were held to discuss diplomatic matters, and the strive towards getting Japan to accept an unconditional surrender. The Japanese had already been weakened, and the military predicted that they would eventually be forced to surrender in a short amount of time. Even the scientists who worked on the atomic bomb agreed that it was unnecessary to drop the bomb on Japan, since their surrender would be evident in the near future. Therefore, the United States' decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan had nothing to do with forcing the Japanese to surrender; it was only done to intimidate the Soviet Union.
Eisenhower met with Truman in July of 1945 to convince him that the Soviet Union would not accept anything besides a full Japanese surrender. (Doc.C) This strengthens the idea that the United States only dropped the bomb because it was a necessary precaution to keep Soviet forces out of the war in Japan. During WWII, it was necessary to form a temporary alliance with the Soviet Union in order to defeat Germany. Both sides knew that the other couldn't be trusted, yet they needed to defeat their common enemy: Adolf Hitler. However, after the Potsdam Conference, Truman announced that the atomic bomb was complete, and ready to be used. (Doc.E) No longer would the United States need aid from Russia for protection against German forces. The completion of the atomic bomb ultimately put the United States in the top diplomatic position out of the Great Powers. The Soviet Union wasn't actually informed about the completion of the bomb, yet they still found about the Manhattan Project through espionage. Subsequently, in August of 1945, during a radio address, Truman justified his own reasons for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan. (Doc.H) He concluded
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Japanese War In World War II?
    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Japanese War In World War II?

    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
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Use Atomic Weapons Dbq
    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Use Atomic Weapons Dbq

    The civilians killed and injured by the atomic blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren’t soldiers. They were citizens, women and children. The US was more interested in a quick and devastating end to the war than to care for the millions of Japanese lives who were innocent. They had in their hands the weapon that was capable of bringing speed for the Japanese surrender, so they used it. Admiral William Leahy stated, “I was not taught to make wars in that fashion, and that wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” (Document K: Critics of Trumans Decision to Use Atomic Weapons) He meant by this is we would of easily won without murdering people living in the cities because of their plan and go after the Japanese soldiers.…

    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Bombs On Japan
    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Bombs On Japan

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Did Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?
    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Did Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?

    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
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Did Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?
    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Did Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?

    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
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    DBQ Atomic Bomb
    • 639 Words
    • 2 Pages

    DBQ Atomic Bomb

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Prevent The Atomic Bombing
    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Prevent The Atomic Bombing

    The money that was involved in the creation of the atomic bomb was tremendous. It was massive, if it wasn’t experimented on then it was believed that the Americans would be highly disappointed. After the Japanese attack, President Truman took that as a great opportunity to use the bombing. The outcome was successful because it caused an atrocious amount of deaths in…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Was Truman's Decision To Drop Of The Atomic Bomb Justified
    • 125 Words
    • 1 Page

    Was Truman's Decision To Drop Of The Atomic Bomb Justified

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Was Truman Justified In His Decision To
    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Was Truman Justified In His Decision To

    A key reason for Truman’s decision to drop the Atomic Bomb was the alternative options were not proper solutions. Dropping the bomb wasn’t the only considered option. The main “runner up” was a mass invasion of Japan. This idea was very dangerous. The casualties for the US were projected to be over 1,000,000 soldiers, and 5,000,000 japanese soldiers. One of the other alternatives was the idea of displaying to true power of the atomic weapon to Japan through a test. Such an idea had way too many flaws to be applicable. There was only enough Plutonium and Uranium available to the US for two bombs, (Little Boy, Fat Man). Also this idea was a risk because if the weapon did not detonate, the US would look even weaker to the Japanese. The idea of barricading the Japanese was also a considered solution, using Naval vessels to trap the Japanese in until the US “starved them out”. The fault in this idea was the unreasonable amount of time and resources it would consume. After weighing the options, and thinking it through carefully, President Truman made the correct choice to drop the bomb.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Did President Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb
    • 634 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Did President Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb

    During World War II the United States government propelled a $2 billion venture. This venture, known as the Manhattan Project, was a push to deliver a nuclear bomb. This venture was gone up against by gathering nuclear researchers from everywhere throughout the world. President Truman's choice to drop the atomic bomb on the urban areas of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the immediate reason for the finish of World War II in the Pacific.…

    • 634 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Truman Had the Right to Drop the Atomic Bomb
    • 1290 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Truman Had the Right to Drop the Atomic Bomb

    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
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Why Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb
    • 2170 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Why Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb

    This investigation evaluates whether or not the dropping of the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary to make Japan surrender unconditionally. To assess the extent to which the deployment of nuclear weapons affected the Japanese decision to surrender unconditionally and if Japan was already prepared to do this prior to the use of the atomic bombs. The details and motivations of the United States to drop the bombs are explored as well as Japan’s peace negotiations with the United States and their progress prior to the U.S. choosing to use the bombs. Actions of the United States and Japan not related to the end of World War 2 are not assessed in this investigation.…

    • 2170 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb
    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb

    Warfare would be forever changed after the introduction of nuclear weaponry and through the United State’s unprecedented newfound power, they would play a major role in the conflicts to come. The atomic bombings introduced an age of nuclear weaponry, and resulted in the increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States after the Potsdam Conference, which eventually lead to the Cold War. Had Truman not decided to show Stalin the extents of his country’s power, and been backed by the confidence of this nuclear failsafe at the Potsdam conference, tensions may not have risen to such an all time high in the years to come, however one thing that is for sure is that the destruction caused by these bombs not only heightened international conflicts, but also had detrimental effects to residents who survived the bombings. Even today, Hiroshima and Nagasaki have higher concentrations of radiation and diseases which arose after the bombings continue to ail those who live there. Hiroshima and Nagasaki never truly will always be in the shadow of the atomic bomb, and the decimation of these cities will go on in history as one of Truman’s biggest…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Did President Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?
    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Did President Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Atomic Bomb Dbq
    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Atomic Bomb Dbq

    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
    Read More

Related Topics