Thesis Statement On The Atomic Bomb

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened during World War II. World War II was coming to a close and the Japanese were holding on to what little land they had claimed. Meanwhile allowing their people and the people in the surrounding countries to starve. This is because the Japanese would not have surrendered without the bombings, there would have been more Asian civilian casualties had the war gone on, and finally that the Invasion of Japan would have resulted in more American casualties. The evidence clearly shown through historical documents will justify that the bombings were catastrophic and caused many civilian casualties, but was necessary to end World War II.

Finally, if they had just used smaller bombs, it might have been enough to push Japan past their tipping point of following the Bushido code, a code that says that they should never surrender, something that proved costly to both sides, as the Japanese used kamikaze throughout the captures of Midway, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Because Truman could use other, available options, he did not possess the right to resort to dropping the atomic bombs. Even though America warned Japan about the bombs, they still should not have used them. Japan had no idea of the grand effects caused by the atomic bombs. For instance, when the bomb was dropped the radius of the blast was many times larger than any bomb before it.

In 1945, President Truman had to make the most difficult decision of his life. Truman had to decide if the U.S. would drop an atomic bomb on Japan during WWII. He had a way to end the war with Japan, but doing so would unleash the most deadly weapon ever created. The U.S. was 4 years into the war with Japan.

They constructed Boeing B-29 “Superfortress” bombers, to transport and release their colossal mechanisms (Document F). America had no second chance. If the plan were to fail, Japan would revolt with more power than America could imagine; and, by using these air force “super-bombers”, America was one step closer to ending the crusade against Japan. When the first bomb dropped on Hiroshima, The Enola Gay (a Boeing bomber) observed the smoke, as it engulfed the city within seconds, consuming Japanese supplies, building, and unfortunately people (Document G). Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr. (the pilot of the Enola Gay) exclaimed that his actions and the actions of the United States at this point in the war “saved more lives than we took” (Document L).

Particularly Thousands of people died in both countries. The United States killed much more peoples in Japan, more than japan did. Japan was more scared of Russia would have no qualms about to kill Hirohito. The bomb was already created, there was only left to taste the bomb, but the bomb was needed to be used on anyone, and since Germany was out of the war, the most logic pace to use the bomb would be in Japan. The bombs were finally dropped in japan because at that time white Americans were racist, they didn 't consider the yellow japan as humans.

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.

Since Japan was a rising power they saw one country in the way from keeping their empire secure, the United States of America. Hence the attacked pearl harbor. Japan did this without thinking about the consequences that would later come. Unfortunately for Japan, the U.S. decided to end the war with two nuclear bombs, little boy, and fat man. These two bombs devastated Japan and caused them to surrender.

In conclusion, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of their nationalist mentality, America’s embargo of oil to Japan and fearing that the United States will attack them first. The first reason why Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor was because the Japanese had nationalistic and narcissistic political mentality. The Japanese believed the Yamato race was a superior race to the other Asian race(Document A). They also believed they will become the “new order” once Europe and America crumble and become the “old orders”(Document A).

America was left out of the war until then leaving only America to defeat or join forces with. Japan 's idea was to weaken the U.S. and leave them with no choice except to surrender. America was “easy pickings” for Japan, due to Germany finishing of Great Britain and leaving half of Russia and America to deal with. It was meant to be the end of the war many cities in ruins over the rule of the Nazi and Japanese armies that were almost unstoppable. In spite of Japan 's doings which in fact lead us into participating in the war the Pearl Harbor attack did indeed change America’s history.

As stated in document A, President Truman believed that it was his duty as president to use every weapon available to save American lives. By making the decision to employ atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it successfully brought an end to World War II. Now, while these bombs did ultimately spare thousands of American lives, it did also put an end to about 200,000 lives as shown in document E. Document A stated that Admiral William Leahy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, opposed using the bomb because it killed civilians indiscriminately. He believed that an economic blockade and conventional bombing would convince Japan to surrender. As an opposite end of the spectrum though Truman’s advisor, James Byrnes thought that the use of “the A-bombs would not only cause Japan to surrender, but also impress the Soviet Union, and hopefully stop its expansion” (Doc C).

The USSR is an ever growing threat to world peace. After the war, they may simply replace Nazi Germany as the new tyrannical power in the world. This bomb, however, would dissuade them. President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was a necessary evil.

The issue I see with the dropping of the A-Bombs was that there were much better strategic options for America but it seems like they were done being in the war and just wanted to get it over with even if it costed many Japanese lives. In Document 6 Admiral William E. Leahy, President Truman’s Chief of Staff states “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”. This proves the fact even more that Japan was ready to surrender and knew they had no chance at winning.

So, to Truman, dropping an atomic bomb was equal to fire bombing a city. That is one reason the president decided to drop the bomb. Also, if you 're told that an estimated 1 million casualties would ensue if you made a land invasion, it can make the decision to drop a bomb a little easier. What is especially noble, however, is that America refused to use their new deadly weapon to ell the world or rule with an iron fist.

Atomic power testament provides the nations with new means of destruction. The atomic bombs at our disposal mean only the first step in this direction and in that respect is almost no limit to the destructive power which will become available in the course of this development. Szilard organized his letter in a logical way hence the intended message is brought out emphatically. The letter opens with a strong introduction that indicates the dangers posed to the American nation as a result of the discovery of the atomic bomb, and its subsequent placement into the hands of the American military. The author then explains that the atomic bombs were useful in case America was at the threat of being attacked by the same weapons, but the phase of war then, did not favor the US using atomic bombs on Japan.

Pearl Harbor was Japan 's way of showing the U.S. that they were done trying to make peace. President Roosevelt had been having meetings with Japan 's Minister of War to try to keep the U.S. out of the war (Sibilla). When Japan attacked the U.S. before declaring war, it ended the peace negotiations that everyone had hoped would become an agreement not to fight between the two countries.