How Is The Atomic Bomb Justified

Gloria Lopez

Mr. Davisson

A.P. United States History

30 August 2015

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing World War II had taken place in Europe and in the Pacific for two years during these two years the United States had managed to remain neutral. It was not until December 8, 1941 that the United States decided to join the Allies in World War II with a simple purpose, to seek revenge for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. On August 1945, Japan fell on its knees and was forced to surrender by the United States’ vengeful, secret weapon, the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was an unjustified crime against humanity. The explosion in Hiroshima “…wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people;

Today, there is speculation over whether the bomb was necessary or not. Russia had promised the United States to help invade Japan. With the combination of Russia’s enormous military and the United States’ military, the defeat of Japan would be inevitable. The United States could have also made an agreement with Japan that allowed them to keep their Empire. The only reason the Japanese continued to fight was to protect and defend their Empire. This option would have created peace between the countries and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. If, for whatever reason, Japan decided to decline the agreement, Unites States could have continued its bombardments. “… a number of air and naval leaders in the United States, joined by General MacArthur, offered testimonials after the war that conventional attacks could have ended the war without the atomic bombs”(Frank 355). Unfortunately, the United States was determined to destroy Japan with the powerful atomic bomb. In 1944, the U.S. President and prime minster of United Kingdom made a private agreement to immediately use the bomb against Japan once it was available, “despite the clear indications (as early as 1944) that Japan had little chance of winning.” (Ham 3, History). The atomic bomb was at no means justified. President Truman was informed of the potential damage of the bomb and the United States, clearly, had other less violent options. Yet, they were set on the most harmful choice to claim superiority and demonstrate revenge through the atomic bomb. Apparently, the United States came out of war as winners. However they also came out as mass