ipl-logo

The Pros And Cons Of Dropping The Atomic Bomb

933 Words4 Pages

Dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was essential as it provided a way to control Russia, ensured the end of the war, and allowed the U.S. to save hundreds of thousands of American lives, yet Japan was on the brink of collapse so planning regular military actions might have been the better solution. There was no need to use the atomic bombs on Japan because it was already on the brink of collapse. The U.S. had already done bombing runs and continuously at that. On top of that Japan’s resources were dwindling due to the control that the U.S. had over imports. Japan also had to deal with a different issue relating to the Soviet Union. The article, Choices: Truman Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, declares, “Continuing American bombing …show more content…

That being patience, The U.S. would have to wait a fairly long time for all of these plans to actually work. Japan’s forces were relentless when it came to surrendering, they would go as far as enrolling citizens no matter their age or suicide bombing (Kamikaze). Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan would not only end the war but fix many additional issues that the U.S. were facing. As well as potentially saving hundreds of thousands of American lives compared to the conventional war plan. In Choices, Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, it notes, “The interim Committee additionally concluded that using the atomic bomb to end the war would make the Soviet Union ‘more manageable in the postwar world.”(pg.63) By being the first ones to create and use atomic bombs, the U.S. was placed in an area of great power. They had control over a devastating power that could entice the Soviet Union to tread lightly as sort of a failsafe for the United States. The Japanese were known as a nation that never gave up though. The article, Choices, Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, additionally declares, “... members of the Japanese government and military leadership strongly opposed surrendering. They argued that Japan should accept ‘the honorable death of a hundred million’ rather than give up. They moved ahead with plans for defending the homeland including the use of 350,000 troops, preparing thousands of pilots and planes for kamikaze attacks, and mobilization of civilians, including women..”(pg.65) Japan’s resilience to surrender could be harmful to the United States. Japan was going as far as fighting to the death rather than accepting defeat and giving up, as well as enrolling regular citizens to fight for them. This sheer will to not surrender made fighting the Japanese on their soil especially challenging for the U.S. troops. If the U.S. were to not use the bomb and continue with invasion plans, U.S. lives would be

Show More
Related

  • Was The Us Justified Dbq Research Paper

    776 Words  | 4 Pages

    When America had dropped the atomic bomb, Japan was in a very weakened state. The navy and air force were destroyed, the land had been surrounded by other armies, and the supplies had been cut off (David M., 421). By these observations, it can be concluded that Japan was in a position much weaker than the had been at the start of the war and recognition of defeat could be seen. This defeat, however, was not declared by Japan and they continued to decline to surrender. Their decline to surrender ultimately led the need of the atomic bombs.

    Read More

  • How Did The Us Affect The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor Dbq

    1214 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to Document G, a memoir of General H. H. Arnold, whether or not the bombs were dropped, the Japanese were already on the verge of surrendering. The United States had already killed about 241,000 people, wounded 313,000, and destroyed about 2,333,000 homes, making it increasingly evident that their decision to drop the bomb was just a selfish and easy manner to end the war. The document also states that the air force was aware that the destruction of most Japanese industries and the prevention of the arrival of the incoming cargo had made it impossible for Japan to carry out a large-scale war. With this fact, the knowledge of their increasing vulnerability was in effect throughout the military and the white house, bringing to light the leverage the United States had going through with the bombings. Overall, the decision to drop the bombs can be viewed as unnecessary as the U.S could have kept fighting knowing that

    Read More

  • World War 2 Dbq Essay

    807 Words  | 4 Pages

    The United States invasion of Japan led to numerous casualties and severe damage yet Japan stood its ground, proving it would fight to the death. At times violence is the answer; Japan had no intention of surrendering, no matter the consequence. U.S. Secretary of war, Henry Stimson, confirms that “only the complete destruction of her military power could open the way to lasting peace”.(Document B) Each day brought great suffering, and the only logical solution to dealing with millions of suicidal soldiers was to kill off the problem. After the Japanese repeatedly refused to surrender the United States was forced to put its nuclear warfare to use and bomb both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, doing what they believed was their only

    Read More

  • How Did The Us Dropped The Atomic Bomb Dbq

    1248 Words  | 5 Pages

    As former Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson stated in his memoirs, “The principal, social, and military objectives of the United States in the summer of 1945 was the prompt and complete surrender of Japan” (Doc A). Agreeing with Stimson are a few nuclear physicists who state that an atomic bomb is “the proposal of a purely technical demonstration of that of the military application best designed to induce surrender” (Doc G). This common belief among Stimson and the physicists shows that common thought among the people and even the military itself was that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were to force Japan to surrender. Even though it is a basic idea, it seems practical because after Pearl Harbor and the “Island Hopping” battles in the Pacific, why wouldn't one want to put an end to all of the chaos in a few seconds? Along with the belief that America was striving for surrender, the thought that America bombed Japan to spare American lives is very understandable and practical.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Dropping The Atomic Bomb

    987 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the time President Truman authorized the use of the most devastating weapon ever used against Japan in World War II, the United States was making preparations to seize the Japanese motherland. The defenses that the Japanese military were preparing had shown American strategists that there was still some fight left in a supposedly doomed enemy. High-ranking members of the military and civilians brought forth President Truman a variety of choices on how to force Japan to surrender. These choices included invading Japan, negotiating a peace settlement, bombing Japan through aerial warfare, and compressing the naval blockade. The atomic bomb would become an alternative once the bomb itself became operational.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Dbq Essay

    699 Words  | 3 Pages

    First of all, dropping the bombs would end the war more quicker. This was a necessity because this bomb would save more lives than it took because the Japanese would not stop fighting. This is shown in the Potsdam Declaration where the Japanese rejected the offer of surrender (Doc 1). The Potsdam Declaration occurred on July 26th, 1945, and was an ultimatum made by The U.S., China, and Great Britain calling for the surrender of Japan. The terms consisted of Japan’s surrender, outside occupation of

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Dropping The Atomic Bombs

    504 Words  | 3 Pages

    It could roughly save 30 million people Ground invasions Dropping the Bombs The decision to use the Atomic Bomb affected the way individuals like Truman perceived the war. Even though Harry Truman’s decision affected the way the war turned he did think of how the bomb will affect Japan and its civilians. Which made me think that he did create a way to stop the war which is why, I would also believe in dropping the bombs. President Truman had three options which did make him perceive the way he will fight, 1 to continue bombing Japanese cities, 2 to invade Japan, and 3 demonstrate the bomb on an unpopulated island or an inhabited Japanese city.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Dbq Essay

    650 Words  | 3 Pages

    If they dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, they would not have to worry about them fighting back and would not have to keep making more weapons just to defeat the Japanese. It is expensive to manufacture weapons over and over, dropping the atomic bomb would just be a one time thing and it would save time as well. Also, If the Americans and Japanese fought on the island of Kyushu, then more Americans would die as well, if they dropped the atomic bomb then lots of lives would be saved. Also, Nicholas Kristoff said that military officials were likely to fight on, furiously, until the end willing to "Sacrifice 20 million Japanese lives," as late as August of 1945.” (Doc. I)

    Read More

  • Was The Atomic Bombing Of Japan Necessary?

    1480 Words  | 6 Pages

    author Robert Freeman argues that the atomic bombs were not required to end the war because Japan was already on the verge of surrendering. The blockades around Japan were working effectively and Japan had already begun peace negotiations prior to the bombing. The U.S. only dropped the bombs because they feared that the Russians would

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Dbq Essay

    676 Words  | 3 Pages

    Japan was weakening, “The food situation gradually becoming worse and worse…” Stated in source H. America had many industrial resources to use against Japan and so Japan had essentially been defeated. Japan pushed only for the sake of their countries honour as the shame of unconditional surrender goes against their code of honour. Furthermore a warning was given to Japan with America promising to drop the atomic bomb, however there was no evidence and so it could have easily been deemed a bluff. An American nuclear scientist stated, “A demonstration of the bomb best be made… Japan could then be asked to surrender.” This source seems somewhat reliable as it is from one of the American scientists and they would know the strength of the bomb.

    Read More

  • Should We Have Dropped The Atomic Bomb Persuasive Essay

    852 Words  | 4 Pages

    In fact, Ralph A. Bard, Undersecretary of the Navy wrote to Secretary of War Stimson in a June 27, 1945 memorandum. “I define this decision as an emotional and reckless decision, Japanese government may be searching for some opportunity which they could use as a medium of surrender” (Bard). In fact, the Japanese government expressed desire to end the war, and would have accepted conditional surrender before the mainland invasion in November. The reason for dropping the bomb was forcing Japan to surrender unconditionally. In America’s opinion, Japan had lost the war; they did not have any capital to negotiate with.

    Read More

  • How Did The Us Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb Dbq

    905 Words  | 4 Pages

    The United States decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was barely motivated by the idea that it would intimidate the Soviet Union. Dropping the atomic bomb was designed to demoralize the Japanese and demonstrate to them that if they did not surrender, th . In Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson’s memoirs in document A, he writes, “The total strength of the Japanese army was estimated at about 5,000,000... I was informed that such operation (the invasion of Japan) might be expected to cost over a million casualties, to American forces alone” (Doc A). Stimson’s memoirs were written with the intention of being published and he knew he had to defend the government’s decision to drop the bomb and is writing from the point of view of someone

    Read More

  • Atomic Decision Dbq

    1362 Words  | 6 Pages

    As stated by Admiral William Leahy, Chief of Staff to President Truman, "The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender…" (Document #2). The Japanese forces were surrounded, suffering significant losses, and the United States troops were already at the border of the mainland. Therefore, the use of the atomic bomb was an unjustified flex by the United States, disregarding the human lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan was destined to fall, nevertheless, the US saw it necessary to drop an A-bomb.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Atomic Bomb

    898 Words  | 4 Pages

    The article states, “It achieved its primary objective of shortening the war.” (History on the Net 15) Dropping the bomb actually shortened the war, which also means there were less deaths compared to how many more there would have been if they did not drop the bomb, and the war may have gone on for much longer without the bomb. The article adds, “President Truman and the Allies issued a final ultimatum to Japan, known as the Potsdam Declaration” (History on the Net 19). The president and the Allied powers gave further warning about the bomb and even issued a final compromise, Japan still didn’t do anything and refused to cooperate, which forced the US to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Justified Dbq

    882 Words  | 4 Pages

    Document 33 shows a propaganda shows the amount of damage the bombs would do, Japan still did not surrender. Another piece of evidence is document 71: I know the Japanese intimately. The Japanese will not crack. They will not crack morally or psychologically or economically, even when eventual defeat stares them in the face.

    Read More

More about The Pros And Cons Of Dropping The Atomic Bomb

Open Document