ipl-logo

Truman's Influence On Japan During The Cold War

571 Words3 Pages

After the American use of the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945, the tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union grew exponentially. A weapon with so much destructive power in the hands of the enemy was justifiability seen as a huge threat to the Soviets` safety and influence. The Soviets constructed their own nuclear bomb in response during August of 1948, and began a competition began between the two nations. Each country attempted to produce forces more impressive than the other`s, leading to the creation of increasingly ruinous weaponry. The constantly stressed situation proved sensitive to any movement by either country, altered domestically or otherwise. For example, a press conference with President Truman on November 30th, 1950, …show more content…

He became the first President to use the atomic bomb when he ordered the attack of Japan`s two cities Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. The weight of his decision, debated as reasonable or otherwise, understandably troubled him, and influenced his choices leaning toward the reduction of arms; for both the United States and the Soviet Union. He took actions similar to Carl von Clausewitz`s ideas on limited warfare and force in his attempts to resolve Cold War problems, though there was never proof to that he was directly inspired by Clausewitz. Limited warfare would require the nations to withhold their power to a degree in order to maintain the health of society, and assure that the world would not receive any damage that it could not possibly recover from.
The Soviets` did not agree to most of Truman`s suggestions to ease the tension, however. And although the Soviet Union successfully infiltrated the United States information bases, and therefore knew more about atomic materials in the United States, Truman`s choices can be considered successes as they prevented many dangerous outcomes. Such as when leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin, approved North Korea`s invasion of the South , the United States were able to react in a way that prevented further harm to the situation, however shocked the Americans were at the

Show More
Related

  • Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bombs

    1889 Words  | 8 Pages

    The reason they say that Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs was so that they could try to get ahead of the Soviet Union. Gar Alperovitz is one of the most popular advocators for this reason. He stated that Truman dropped the bombs to demonstrate the power of America, and so that Russia could not enter the war to get new territorial acquisitions. If the Soviet Union was allowed to enter the war, then they could get some of the Japanese assets in China, which would have favored Russia greatly. Alperovitz’s conclusion was that Truman did this “to convince the Russians to accept the American plan for a stable peace”(Harry).

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Reagan's Speech: The Great Communicator

    1303 Words  | 6 Pages

    Thirty two years ago on June 6, 1984, at Pointe du Hoc on the northern shore of France President Ronald Reagan delivered what would be considered to be one of his greatest speeches. On the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, President Reagan spoke with raw emotion and simplicity that made the events of that longest day real to those who were not there. He honored, inspired, and touched people that he would never meet all in the short span of under fifteen minutes. The man who was dubbed the “Great Communicator” communicated a chilling message of freedom, determination, and heart to America and the rest of the world. He would use this speech to describe the events of that day forty years before in a way that made one see the bombs, and hear the gunfire.

    Read More

  • The Controversy Of The Rosenberg Trial During The Mccarthy Era

    692 Words  | 3 Pages

    On August 6, 1945, the first of two atomic bombs was dropped on Japan, sparking the start of what is now known as the Cold War. Two large military powers, the Soviet communists and the United States of America, pitted their wits and defense against each other, using any means necessary to find cracks in the others’ defenses. Three days later, the second atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, which shook the world with its deafening death toll. The world immediately took up arms in the following years, sparking some of the most controversial years in history. Suspicion turned brothers against sisters, neighbors against neighbors, and caused many lives to be ruined.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Guilt In The Salem Witch Trials

    1037 Words  | 5 Pages

    “In 1994, the Soviets tested an atom bomb of their own.” (History.com Staff, "Cold War History"). This act caused President Truman to spend more money on the army and defense of the United States and panic and hysteria spread to the minds of the people of our country. “...and the world lived under the threat of thermonuclear war for the first time.” (History.com Staff, "Soviets explode atomic bomb").

    Read More

  • Prompt And Utter Destruction Summary

    1394 Words  | 6 Pages

    Overall, the work is worth reading and is recommendable for students and scholars with interest in the Truman administration, atomic warfare and weapons, the second world war, relations between the US and the Soviet, and those curious of knowing the reasons that led to Truman’s decision to use two atomic bombs on

    Read More

  • What Is Harry S. Truman's Role As A Chief Diplomat

    1188 Words  | 5 Pages

    Although most of the American population disagreed with many of his decisions, those controversial decisions have over time been proven to be nothing but beneficial and necessary to the nation. Truman demonstrated exemplary action as Commander in Chief, sending troops overseas to fight in the war against North Korea as he saw fit during the time of the Cold War. He made quick and bold decisions under challenging pressures, especially with the controversy of atomic bombs present at the time. Truman was a solid and dependable individual when building relations with foreign nations, especially with his contributions through the United Nations, making him successful in regards to being the Chief Diplomat. His roles as Chief Executive and Chief of State were explicitly represented through the well-organized bureaucracy and the fact that he was a well-respected power of authority within the government.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Argumentative Essay

    1153 Words  | 5 Pages

    This state of affairs has perpetuated a constant threat of nuclear warfare and has required continuous diplomatic efforts to prevent the use of these weapons. The dropping of the atomic bomb set a dangerous precedent and contributed to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The use of atomic weapons in World War II established a precedent that the use of such devastating weapons could be justified under certain circumstances. This precedent has had far-reaching consequences, intensifying the arms race and undermining efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation. The

    Read More

  • Atomic Decision Dbq

    1362 Words  | 6 Pages

    Nuclear Weapons and the Escalation of the Cold War, 1945-1962. Edited by Melvyn P Leffler and Odd Arne Westad, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pp. 376–397, history.stanford.edu/publications/nuclear-weapons-and-escalation-cold-war-1945-1962. Listwa, Dan. “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Long Term Health Effects.”

    Read More

  • How Did Truman Use The Atomic Bomb Dbq

    301 Words  | 2 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • Fdr's Infamy Speech

    1031 Words  | 5 Pages

    FDR Infamy Speech The speech was given after the attack on Pearl Harbor known as the “Infamy speech”, was one of the greatest speeches ever given. The speech was given by Franklin D. Roosevelt who was president of the United States at the time of the attack. FDR’s presidential term lasted from March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945, when he died. FDR became president of the United States midway through the Great Depression.

    Read More

  • Why Did Harry Truman To Use The Atomic Bomb

    291 Words  | 2 Pages

    Near the end of World War II, President Harry S. Truman was faced with a difficult decision. He had to make a choice about what to do with Japan. Germany had surrendered to the Allies, but Japan kept fighting. Truman had to choose whether or not to invade Japan and drag the war on or use America’s new weapon, the atomic bomb, to end the war quickly.

    Read More

  • Harry Truman Accomplishments

    1157 Words  | 5 Pages

    Several hours after Truman was given the oath and he had become the new president. Normally when you first become president you get to settle down but not Truman, after only a few meetings with Roosevelt before he died he was not informed about the construction of the atomic bomb. It was probably one of the toughest decisions he had to make in his terms as president and he decided to drop the bomb on Japan. The war in europe ended when the allies accepted Nazi Germans attempt to surrender. Then there was the Potsdam conference, which is when Truman met with Great Britain’s Winston Churchill and the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Justified Essay

    548 Words  | 3 Pages

    The use of these devastating weapons would change warfare forever. President Truman had to make a choice; use atomic weapons that could end the war quickly, possibly save American lives, but at the same time, destroy cities and thousands of lives. The decision to use atomic weapons was justified

    Read More

  • The Polarity Of Japan During The Cold War

    1094 Words  | 5 Pages

    Bipolar world is a system where we have two super powers. The best example for this type of polarity is the Cold War between U.S and Soviet Union in a period from 1945 to 1990. All the other super powers were defeated or in a bad economic position. U.S and Soviet Union were obviously the most powerful states in the world in this period with the most advanced, sophisticated and technological nuclear weapons. Bandwagoning is when a country join the stronger alliance of state, in the hope of sharing the spoils of victory.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Use Of Nuclear Weapons

    966 Words  | 4 Pages

    There is no denying that nuclear weapons have had a huge impact upon the public conscience and public opinion has a huge impact upon the use of nuclear weapons. The current theories proposing the motivations of using nuclear weapons are separated into three categories: security, domestic politics, and norms. A fourth theory is now proposed. The development of nuclear weapons can be the tool by which a government attempts to validate their power and worth as a modern state in the absence of more traditional means. For the purposes of speaking of nuclear weapons, “modern” shall mean after the end of the Cold War around 1990.

    Read More

More about Truman's Influence On Japan During The Cold War

Open Document