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How Did Harry S. Truman's Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb

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Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States, infamously used atomic bombs against Japan during World War II. Truman chose to utilize these catastrophic weapons in order to save American lives as well as accelerate this agonizing war. The effects of the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were utterly devastating. While the immediate death toll was colossal, an immeasurable number of deaths ensued. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused roughly 180,000 deaths. Deaths that were not immediately caused by the explosion were ultimately caused by high levels of radiation. Short term effects include the unwarranted deaths of countless men, women and children. In terms of long term effects, those who survived the bombs showed highly …show more content…

This article criticizes Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb, deeming it avoidable. Alperovitz utilizes evidence suggesting that America just wanted to intimidate the Soviet Union. His quote, “The timing itself has obviously raised questions among many historians.” (Alperovitz, 3) serves to question the suspicious timing of the bombs being dropped. Alperovitz expresses that other historians, in addition to himself, feel that the bombings were handily timed in order to intimidate the Soviet Union. Due to the considerable amount of Evidence that America wanted to prove a point to the USSR, Alperovitz’s argument is absolutely …show more content…

Samuel Walker, author of Prompt & Utter Destruction, sees Truman objectively. However, it is slightly insinuated that his decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki was truly unnecessary. Walker portrays that dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was an utterly unnecessary catastrophe. Prompt & Utter Destruction states, “Even without the use of the atomic bombs, the war would probably have ended before an American invasion…” (Walker, 89). This quote reflects the needlessness of such a horrendous weapon. This serves to reaffirm his opinion that is emitted throughout the book. His arguments are excessively convincing due to his persistent use of historic detail. Walker precisely recounts numerous events that took place during World War II, which elevates his argument

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