Was Dropping an Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima Ethical? Essay Example
Gather the facts
On December 7th, 1941 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was the target of an unannounced military attack by the Japanese Navy. This resulted in the United States entry into World War II. After almost 4 years of war, 400,000 US casualties, 6 months of air strikes on Japanese cities and an impending defeat of Japan, an ultimatum was delivered to Japan by the United States: surrender or be destroyed.
On August 6th, 1945 the United States military dropped the first atomic bomb as an act of war on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 3 days later, the second and last to date, atomic bomb was dropped onto Nagasaki, Japan. Under the direction of President Harry Truman, the atomic bombs were dropped in response to the disregarded ultimatum demanding the surrender of Japan in World War II. 150,000 to 246,000 people died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to the blast and in the following months due to injury and radiation sickness. On August 15th, 1945 Japan surrendered to the Allied Powers, thus ending World War II.
Cultural differences between the Japanese and Americans also played a part in creating the climate prior to the bombing of Hiroshima. The Japanese culture gave great respect and honor to Japanese soldiers that killed themselves in Kamikaze attacks that surprised the American’s and struck them barbaric and disturbing. Their collectivist culture made it easier for American soldiers and civilians to hate the Japanese as a whole race. The Japanese also displayed a strong contradiction in cultural values by their refusal to surrender, even in the face of absolute death.
The Japanese culture was, and is today, a culture of extreme opposites in many ways to that of the United States. The United States is known for its Individualist values; putting strong emphasis on personal achievement, independence, entrepreneurship and competitiveness. The Japanese are often the example of what the opposite end of the spectrum values; belonging, group harmony and honor in
On December 7th, 1941 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was the target of an unannounced military attack by the Japanese Navy. This resulted in the United States entry into World War II. After almost 4 years of war, 400,000 US casualties, 6 months of air strikes on Japanese cities and an impending defeat of Japan, an ultimatum was delivered to Japan by the United States: surrender or be destroyed.
On August 6th, 1945 the United States military dropped the first atomic bomb as an act of war on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 3 days later, the second and last to date, atomic bomb was dropped onto Nagasaki, Japan. Under the direction of President Harry Truman, the atomic bombs were dropped in response to the disregarded ultimatum demanding the surrender of Japan in World War II. 150,000 to 246,000 people died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to the blast and in the following months due to injury and radiation sickness. On August 15th, 1945 Japan surrendered to the Allied Powers, thus ending World War II.
Cultural differences between the Japanese and Americans also played a part in creating the climate prior to the bombing of Hiroshima. The Japanese culture gave great respect and honor to Japanese soldiers that killed themselves in Kamikaze attacks that surprised the American’s and struck them barbaric and disturbing. Their collectivist culture made it easier for American soldiers and civilians to hate the Japanese as a whole race. The Japanese also displayed a strong contradiction in cultural values by their refusal to surrender, even in the face of absolute death.
The Japanese culture was, and is today, a culture of extreme opposites in many ways to that of the United States. The United States is known for its Individualist values; putting strong emphasis on personal achievement, independence, entrepreneurship and competitiveness. The Japanese are often the example of what the opposite end of the spectrum values; belonging, group harmony and honor in