The Manhattan project, the project name for the atomic bomb was underway by 1944. After testing the bomb for the first time on July 16th, it was proclaimed a success, but it also created an argument between the American government. There was issues on whether they should use the bomb and end the war quickly with few American casualties, or invade Japan and end the war over a longer stretch of time with a great amount of American casualties. President Truman was indecisive about using the bombs, until he spoke to Churchill and Stalin about the project. Truman said in his diary; “I believe Japs will fold up before Russia comes in. I am sure they will when Manhattan appears over their homeland.” (Kross, pg 6) It was at this point when using the atomic bomb was deemed a beneficial attack to use against the Japanese, should they not surrender unconditionally. A few months after this revelation, Japanese militarists, Baron Kantaro Suzuki, said that it was his government's policy to "fight to the very end…even if it meant the deaths of one hundred million Japanese." (Kross, pg 6) This left Truman with no choice but to drop the atomic bombs into the cities of Japan, because without doing so he would not receive the fast ending of the war that he so desired. After the dropping of this bomb, an immediate surrender was expected of the Japanese, but it was not given until the Americans dropped the second atomic bomb “Fat Man”, into the city of Nagasaki a few days later. It was after this that Emperor Hirohito proclaimed the surrender of Japan, bringing immediate peace, and ending WWII.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
As World War II was coming to an end during 1945, the creation of one of the most destructive weapons known to humanity occurred within the United States. This weapon, known as “the atomic bomb,” was used on the two Japanese cities: Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in a death toll unprecedented by any military weapon used before and an immediate, unconditional surrender. Some historians believe President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb in order to intimidate the Soviet Union whereas others believe it was a strictly military measure designed to force Japan’s unconditional surrender. In the Report of a Scientific Panel of nuclear physicists, some scientific colleagues believed the atomic bomb was a “purely technical demonstration” to induce surrender. Other scientists believed that the use of the atomic bomb will improve international prospects in that they are more concerned with the prevention of war than with the elimination of this special weapon (Doc G). Thus, the United States dropped the atomic bomb to both force Japan’s unconditional surrender and to intimidate the Soviet Union.…
- 949 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
World War II was a global war from 1939 to 1945. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which brought the total victory of the Allies. Right before Japan’s surrender, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and another one on Nagasaki. The atomic bombs caused great damage to Japan and killed estimated 129000 to 246000 people. However, the bombings helped to bring the war to an end. Whether President Truman should make the decision to drop the bombs is still a topic to debate. Due to the fact that it was the best decision Truman could make, the bombs ended the war, and reduced the loss at that time, President Truman was justified in his decision to drop the bombs on japan.…
- 753 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In this essay I will discuss the reasons for and against whether America was right to drop the two atomic bombs. These two bombs were unloaded on Hiroshima, 6th August 1945, and attempted to hit Nagasaki, 9th August 1945. America gave the two bombs code names, the one that was dropped on Hiroshima was called ‘Little Boy’. This bomb was made of uranium. The final death toll added up to 135,000. The nuclear bomb that fell on Nagasaki was called ‘Fat Man’. This bomb was made of plutonium. The final death toll was about 70,000. This was because the bomb had missed its allocated target and instead fell into a valley.…
- 955 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
BREAKING NEWS- President Truman had been warned about invading Japan, and the terrific casualties they were capable off. However since they were afraid of attacking our soil, he ordered for a weapon large enough and powerful enough in hopes of bringing this all to an end. On August 6th, 1945 a five ton-bomb was dropped in the city of Hiroshima, Japan. The bombing killed 80,000 people; the city wasn’t left in great shape as well. Although the devastating outcome, we believe that this is the last of the feuding between them and us. (P.2, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atomic-bomb-dropped-on-hiroshima). The atomic bombs are scary, and threating to all nations. Sadly we believe this has both ended problems we have been facing, but also…
- 240 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
It was August 6, 1945 when the first ever atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima in Japan. Three days later another was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, Japan and this let to the surrender of Japan in World War II. The surrender would have not occurred so soon if it had not been for President Harry Truman’s decision to use the first ever nuclear attack on another nation. His decision changed history and the way the world worked. This meant that nuclear power was out there at the disposal of the United States for them to use whenever they saw fit. The decision Truman had to make was extremely difficult seeing as he was faced with a huge ethical dilemma whether to kill entire cities to save millions of American lives. The issue was not only was it ethically right but did he have enough justification to prove to the world that dropping the atomic bomb was the only way to end the war.…
- 1495 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
In August of 1945, the United States launched two atomic bombs on Japan; the first, in Hiroshima on August 6, and the second in Nagasaki a few days later. Despite the obvious diplomatic advantage to implementing one of the most intimidating weapons of that time, the United States’ tactics and goals behind dropping the atomic bombs were purely military oriented; the political benefit was merely an added bonus. The atomic bomb was necessary due to the Japanese’s refusal to surrender and the hundreds of thousands of lives at stake.…
- 639 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
On the morning of August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Thousands died instantaneously while many more died from radiation exposure from the bombs. The use of the atomic weapons was unnecessary due to the fact the Japan’s military was greatly weakened and ready to surrender, thousands of innocent lives were sacrificed simply for political power, and there could have been alternatives to cease the war.…
- 631 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped the first ever Atomic weapon on Hiroshima, Japan. 140,000 people lost their lives, most of which were civilians. President Truman was in charge of this major decision, and he made the correct choice. The alternative solutions were much too costly for the United States, both in expenses and American casualties. Another reason Truman’s decision is justified was due to the declination of the fair ultimatum recieved by Japan. Also it was important to the well being of the world to keep the Soviets out of Japan. Dropping the Atomic Bomb was the most reliable and definite way to end the war.…
- 498 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
“On the morning of August 6, 1945, the American B-29 Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later another B-29, Bock’s Car, released one over Nagasaki. Both caused enormous casualties and physical destruction.” (Maddox 1). These disastrous events have weighted upon the American conscience ever since that day in history. Even though there are some people that disagree with the dropping of the atomic bomb, President Truman’s decision was very critical because he prevented the loss of many American lives, Japanese soldiers fought with no notion of ever surrendering, and it brought an end to a bloody war.…
- 1290 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
World War was nearing the end when Truman stepped into presidency. The Truman Administration was clearly looking for a way to end the war at the lowest possible cost of American lives. The suggestion of dropping atomic bombs over Japan had surfaced, and with it came a huge dilemma. After much deliberation, the time came when Truman ordered the Americans to drop an atomic bomb over Hiroshima. It all becomes quite clear that atomic bombings of Japan cannot be justified. They can be viewed as an inhumane acts that were aimed at American revenge and retaliation against the Japanese. The decision made by Truman in 1945…
- 941 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Lastly the last event that led to the use of an atomic bomb was at Okinawa, the Japanese were unwavering and as a last ditch effort the Japanese unleashed suicide pilots also known as kamikazes to make sure to take as many Americans as they could down with them. After the previously stated events America was considering the use of nuclear weapons to end the war with Japan to prevent unnecessary deaths and use of resources. President Truman was the one made the decision to drop Fat Man on Nagasaki and Little Boy on Hiroshima. They were dropped on August 9th, 1945.…
- 615 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In 1945 Harry S. Truman decided to use the atomic bomb not only once, but twice to finish World War Two. The first bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima August, 6th killed upwards to around 80,000 people and the second bomb dropped on Nagasaki August, 14th killed 40,000 people. The controversy of the atomic bomb is because of the amount of innocent people that were killed in Japan. Nobody will ever know the outcome of the war if we never dropped the bomb, but we do know that the war was ended because of it. Over 100,000 people lost their lives because of these bombs, but how many lives would have been lost if we never dropped them? That is the other question that can never be answered, but based…
- 534 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Truman swore in as president in the final months of the war during nineteen forty-five. The United States had been at war with Japan for four years. The idea of the atomic bomb was presented to Truman only moments after he took office on April 12, 1945. Truman was only given a few details about the bomb from Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, but he denied the use of it for the time being. It was the next day when Truman learned all the details about what the secretary of war was calling the “Manhattan project.” Dropping the atomic bomb would not be a decision that Harry Truman would take lightly. In an article written by Henry Stimson titled The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb, Henry states that “it was in the fall of 1941 that the question of atomic energy, was first brought directly to my attention.” In contrast with his decision to disregard the bomb for the moment, Truman allowed the department of war to continue their work on improvements and research over the atomic bomb. Meanwhile, the United States continued the war against Japan. The decision to use, or not use, the atomic bomb would take President Truman longer than a day to…
- 917 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. This prompted the United States to enter World War II. Four years later and still at war, the President Franklin Roosevelt received a letter from Albert Einstein explaining efforts in Nazi Germany to build an atomic bomb. The United States Government soon after began a very secretive project known as “The Manhattan Project”. They developed a new weapon, which was called the nuclear bomb. The United States made two of these weapons, “Little Boy” which consisted of uranium-235, weighed about 9,700lbs and, two billion dollars of research was the smallest of the two. “Fat Boy” was made out of plutonium-238 and weighed around 10,800lbs and being ten times more efficient than “Little Boy”. President Truman warned Japan with the consequences if they didn’t surrender with the Potsdam Declaration. It was signed by President Truman, and by Prime Minister Attlee of the United Kingdom and with the concurrence of Chiang Kai-Shek, President of the National Government of China. Japan refused to surrender. In order to avoid an inevitable bombing campaign and land invasion of Japan that would have killed many US soldiers and citizens; President Truman issued the order to drop the bomb “ Little Boy” to save as many US lives as he could. At 9:15am August 6th 1945, something happened that would affect our world and all of human kind. Enola Gay dropped a bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. Even after having a second chance they still refused to surrender.…
- 579 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The atomic bomb is the subject of much controversy. The original desire of the United States government when they dropped Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not, in fact, the one more commonly known: that the two nuclear devices dropped upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki were detonated with the intention of bringing an end to the war with Japan, but instead to intimidate the Soviet Union. The fact of Japan's imminent defeat, the undeniable truth that relations with Russia were deteriorating, and competition for the division of Europe prove this without question.…
- 853 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays