This call could possibly have led to the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito, being tried on counts of war crimes, which may have possibly made the Japanese to be reluctant on surrendering even in light of a crushing defeat (Huczko). Samuel Walker also provides useful insights into contribution made by the decision to use Atomic weapons on Japanese decision to surrender. 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
Since the ending of the Second World War, much controversy has floated around through conversations in history as to whether or not the atomic bombs should have been dropped on Japan. The global war lasted from the years 1939 to 1945, with many years of carried conflict and grudges held before and afterwards. The two Presidents most involved in this war were 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and 33rd President Harry S. Truman. Each of these leaders initiated and finished with significant actions during this war. However, each may have had different perspectives over the foreign policies regarding the atomic bomb during the war. With either little concern for present matters, impulsive assumptions, or a search for the countries better
This trial of President Harry S Truman attempts to malign him as a war criminal after the role he played in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As Commander in Chief during World War II, President Truman made the final decision in whether the atomic bombs should or should not be dropped to put an end to Japanese resistance and bring the second world war to a close. It is being called into question whether the Japanese’s unwillingness to surrender called for such a severe response from the United States. During this trial, President Truman’s innocence was formally debated based on the information presented from the prosecution and defense, and we, the judges, have reached a verdict. We find President Harry S
President Truman was justified in his decision to drop the atomic bombs in Japan. Truman faced many pros and cons of his decision, however, the pros outweighed the cons. There were very few alternatives to the extreme, the casualties in the Pacific were growing and the rate the war it would save lives. Although, there were many lives lost Truman made the right decision for his country.
Harry S. Truman once said, “Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you.” In World War II, that is exactly what he did. While Japan was breaking treaties and fighting with allied countries, the United States was developing a powerful weapon that would cripple Japan and end World War II. This weapon was called the atomic bomb. After it was fully developed and tested, Harry S. Truman made the decision to drop this deadly weapon on two cities in Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. President Harry S. Truman was justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Japan because he saved American lives, crippled Japan's remaining resource cities, forcing them to surrender, and established dominance as a world power.
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 United States’ use of atomic bombs on Japan is justifiable because it saved thousands of American lives; the Japanese were given fair warning, and their aggressions towards the U.S. The deadly bombing on Japan saved the lives of many in America, prevented them from attacking the U.S like the one on Pearl Harbor, and it brought a sense of peace to the U.S. It is significant to the understanding of WWII because the events of the atomic bombs were the end of
In the twentieth century, the United States dropped two atomic bombs, which were the most powerful weapons at that time, on Japan. It happened on August 6 and August 9, 1945. The atomic bombs killed 226,000 Japanese and ended the war. However, America should not have dropped the atomic bombs for two reasons. First, it was not necessary to drop the bomb to win the war militarily or to get the Japanese to surrender. Second, America dropped the bomb not to win the war and save American lives, but to show its power to the Soviet Union.
President Harry Truman gave an executive order in 1945 to drop to atomic bombs in popular downtown cities in Japan. With the guidance of many scientists and political leaders President Truman made the extremely tough decision to drop the bombs. After listening to arguments from both sides President Truman came to the conclusion that dropping bombs would be the best thing to do for this war. It would also show that the United States had an extreme military power. Many American politicians were for the idea of dropping the bomb, because they believed that it was the only way to end the war and get Japan to surrender. Giving them other options at this point seemed useless. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians were killed when the bombs
With the controversy over whether or not Truman should have dropped the bomb, some consider the decision irrational and unnecessary. However what these sceptics don 't realize is that the use of the atomic bomb not only helped end the war, but facilitated the dominance of the United States that the Japanese finally gave in to. In the section titled, NOTES OF THE INTERIM
Harry Truman evidently demonstrates ultranationalist actions and motives to a moderate extent, accordingly, he is guilty of crimes involving the mistreatment, internment, and use of nuclear warfare against the Japanese peoples. Arguments on whether or not he is an ultranationalist are debatable to a considerable extent. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the issue, the most reinforced position points to a moderate degree of ultranationalism for various reasons.
I believe Truman was right in his actions of commencing the dropping of weapons of mass destruction against the Empire of Japan. While morally it may have been carried out in a better way, that's a debate for a different time. There are three reasons I would like to clarify to show why I believe it was the right decision.
Source B mentions that the reason for Truman dropping the bomb was to save American lives, but it was a speech to the nation. Source A transmits a completely different message. It mentions that “the end of Japanese war no longer depended upon the pouring in of [the Russian] armies.” They way this phrase is interpreted is that Truman dropped the bomb because he no longer wanted the help of the Soviets so he didn’t have to share the reward, which was Tokyo. In conclusion, I believe that Truman did drop the bomb to rescue American lives, but that was not the main reason; the main reason was to keep the price and don’t share it (Tokyo) the way Berlin was.
On August 6,1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked by atomic bombs that were dropped by the U.S Military. Over 200,000 people were killed. The United States used the bomb to end the war with Japan, which began in 1941 when Japan launched an unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. Many people believe that dropping the atomic bombs was the right thing to do because if they did not use it, there would be four more years of fighting and hundreds of thousands more US soldiers would have died because the Japanese refused to surrender. However, even though the Japanese had proved to be a tough opponent and their use of Kamikaze pilots showed that they were willing to die, the use of the atomic bomb was not necessary because the Japanese government knew they had lost the war and they were looking for an opportunity to surrender and Japanese people would commit suicide instead of surrendering but it doesn’t mean they
By 1945, those involved in the Second World War were exhausted. There had been millions of casualties, millions were still suffering and countries were in turmoil. After six years of war, those involved were ready for it to be over. By the end of 1944 the Axis had collapsed. Once Germany unconditionally surrendered on May 8, 1945, the Allies were hoping Japan would surrender too. However, Japan was keen on fighting till the very end. As a result, the war was not over. The Allies had to make a decision how to conquer Japan and end the War. The end result was the use of the atomic bomb. Although there is controversy around the use of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the use of the bomb is justified because it ended the Second World War.