Atomic Cafe Discussion Questions

The filmmakers’ main ideas are that the government misled and lied to the people of the U.S. so that they would believe that the atomic bomb would have no effect on their health and security, that we should question if the government should have lied to the American people, and to make us question whether or not the citizens of the U.S. would continue to be as naive as the people of the 1950’s.

“We have to protect our Earth, so our children and grandchildren will never suffer like that,’ she said. And she looked ahead. ‘Maybe nuclear weapons won’t be abolished while I’m alive,’ she said. ‘But I will never give up.” (Hanley, NBC News). August 6, 1945 at 8:16 in the morning, the United States dropped the world's first atomic bomb on thousands of unsuspecting people in Hiroshima, Japan. Not only did this catastrophic event kill thousands of civilians, but it also resulted in other nations obtaining and learning how to create these deadly weapons, weapons that we still have today. In the book Hiroshima by John Hersey he gives readers a new look at that day, through the eyes of six victims who survived the horrific attack on Hiroshima, he shows how the entire city of Hiroshima suffered, and were left alone to fend for themselves.The book Hiroshima by John Hersey, sheds light on the immense dangers of nuclear warfare, and the government's responsibility for its people, affected by a war they aren’t fighting in.

The book Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon is a thrilling, fast-paced story that refines a great deal of history into interesting and understandable literature for practically any age reader. The author, Steve Sheinkin, writes to tell the story of the first atomic bomb, the people who made it possible, and those who challenged its progress. Any person who is interested in science, history, or would like an enjoyable, quick read could read Bomb and easily understand the basics behind the creation of the atomic bomb. Along with the science and mathematics of the atomic bomb, Sheinkin adds the suspense and intrigue from the viewpoints of espionage agents from the Soviet Union, Germany, Great Britain, and the

Thank God for the Atomic Bomb by Paul Fussel is a provocative essay about the opposing views on the two atomic bombs that America dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan ending World War 2, the most defecating event to happen in history. Over a few million-innocent people died that day, and thousands of the survivors and their offspring have suffered or died since of the result of the chemicals used in the bomb. Fussel was a purple hearted second lieutenant military man frontline in the war. He writes about the difference of opinion of using the atomic bomb from two views: those with firsthand combat with the Japanese and those without firsthand combat experience with the Japanese. Paul Fussel’s essay has the primary aim of persuading the reader that the Atomic bomb was the best choice as a means to end the war and he uses the primary mode of evaluation to persuade. His secondary aim is referential, to inform and explain to those who had no firsthand experience in that war and he uses the secondary mode of description to do this, citing from those against the bomb and those with their hands in the daily blood.

On the clear morning of August 6, 1945 in Hiroshima, Japan, the world was hit with a total shock, that went down in history as a day for the history books. This day, the city of Hiroshima was blasted by the world’s first atomic bomb, which sent the grounds quaking, and leaving thousands dead. The debates for years since the bombing were having us all wonder if the attack was a military necessity or not. Considering both sides of the argument, it is clear to me that the bombing was the best plan for ending the world war. The use of the bomb saved more lives than it took.

The two atomics bombings dropping on Japan are forever remembered today as a changing moment in history. The US dropped the atomic bomb called “Little Boy” on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. Only three days later on August 9th, 1945, the second atomic bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki. This has been the only time that nuclear weapons have been used in war. These bombs have been questioned through history if it was moral or immoral correct. However, the bombs were definitely a moral decision, which helped the country immeasurably. The atomic bombing of Japan was a military success, and a moral decision because it was less harmful than the fire bombings and it helped the country immeasurably.

Although from an economic lens shows the positive impact of the atomic war and the technological advancements that came fourth due to further study of the atomic capabilities it fails to show how a political lens plays a role in this as well. If a historian were to read this article from a political perspective it would be known that “The US government had an obvious interest in perpetuating the bright atomic future narrative, and supplied the media with officially vetted images and information, but only to a certain point” The question here is that in actual the government wants to shield the media from the actual capabilities and the destructive power the atomic mechanics could withhold. In order to avoid conflicting perceptions a historian must analyze both primary and secondary sources to seek patterns, explanations, causes and effects to come to a

People knew that if another World War broke out it would result in nuclear weapons used that could end the world. Even countries who had nuclear bombs but didn’t threaten to use them were considered a very possible threat. Between the USSR and the USA it was like walking on very thin ice. The nuclear buildup was called the balance of terror (Doc. #7). Having an abundance of nuclear weapons insured that the balance of terror was kept. The Cuban Missile Crisis contributed to this fear. When the Cuban Missile Crisis progressed the USA began to make demands. The USA demanded that they must secure the withdrawal of the missiles (Doc. #8). Cuba persisted that they were just for defensive. They promised they would remove them if the USA swore not to attack (Doc. #9).

At the end of World War II America dropped the Atomic Bomb in order to intimidate the Soviet Union. “Mr. Byrnes’s … view [was] that our possessing and

Threats of nuclear weapons and another world war looked unavoidable. Reagan, looking to stop the threat of nuclear missiles, created the strategic defense system. “The strategic defense system… was denounced by the soviets, including Gorbachev, as a dangerous escalation of the arms race” (“Reagan, Ronald”). The United States placed itself on high alert more than once, and many Americans had doubts they would survive to see the end of this era. After the struggle, ended the world seemed to take a major turn for the better. With relations between Russia and America becoming stronger, trade increased between former communist countries and America. Upon seeing this ending and peace between nations Reagan and Gorbachev both declared the world as a winner (Cannon). Seeing peace between these nations the world rejoiced as a new age came upon them and people thought less and less of communists, as world

Hiroshima is an outstanding recreation of the complete annihilation and devastation of during the aftermath and the year following the United States’ dropping of the atomic bomb. As the war in the east carried on, many thought this desolated war might last a lifetime, all the while hoping for an end and praying it not mean their own end. To end the war, Americans had to pick a target that would leave the Japanese government with nowhere to retreat, allowing for a crippling effect that would essentially cause their collapse and surrender. In his writings, John Hersey proclaims that Hiroshima was a “… inviting target - mainly because it had been one of the most important military command and communications centres in Japan …” (HERSEY, P. 107). In the minds of American strategists, this must have seemed a flawless method to force the Japanese military into a corner, not allowing withdrawal without laying down of arms. There was surely no doubt that dropping this bomb of god-like destructive power would, at a minimum, tear into the souls of Japanese, causing catastrophic devastation.

The Atomic Café was an American documentary film covering the beginning of the Cold War, or the beginning of a time of nuclear war. The film mostly showed propaganda, news footage, military training clips, and advertisements from the United States of America. Questions being answered in this essay include; What was your impression of the movie? Was American propaganda stupid, or was there a direct threat from the Soviet Union, especially in Europe? Were the Americans correct in building so many nuclear weapons and testing them?

Atomic café is a documentary concerning nuclear weapons and making sure the American people felt safe and prepared. The use of propaganda by the government allowed them to only tell us what they thought we needed to hear. This documentary shows graphic images of civilians and the effects of atomic weapons. Atomic café discusses the hydrogen bomb in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

During World War II, the United States and Soviet Union were allies, but as many officials predicted, these war-time allies became bitter enemies upon the closing of the war. After the United States dropped the first atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet Union accelerated their nuclear research. On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union successfully tested an atomic bomb. This signaled the beginning of the nuclear “arms race”. As a result, films were developed to help citizens understand both the dangers of the atomic bomb and to give them survival training so they would be prepared if a nuclear strike ever occurred.

Author Steve Sheinkin, in his award-winning nonfiction book Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon (2012), addresses the topic of the invention and theft of the atomic bomb during World War II and attests that the Manhattan Project, through its successful creation of the first atomic weapon, both facilitated the Allied Powers’ victory over the Axis Powers and changed the face of modern warfare by (). Sheinkin clearly supports his assertion by incorporating specific details and quotes from important characters, by turning pivotal historical events into anecdotes the reader can easily follow, and by concisely explaining the effects of the introduction of the atomic bomb, such as its theft by the Soviet Union and the