Blood and anger flowed throughout the entire world during World War II, a fight between the Axis and Allied powers that proved to be the cruelest and most inhumane wars ever fought. Over thirty countries participated in the raging conflict from 1939 to 1945 that killed over fifty million soldiers and civilians. Not only did this war kill millions of people all over the world in the Pacific and European theaters, it also introduced the creation of the deadly atomic bomb. The creation of the new weapon of mass destruction was a race to see who could use it first: Germany or the United States. Ultimately, the United States used their creation to end WWII in the Pacific theater and defeat the Japanese, but killed thousands of innocent individuals in the process. This creation altered humanity, which means human beings collectively and the human race, and also showed the lack of humanity which can be defined as the kindness and benevolence of the world. Although the use of atomic bombs did end the vicious and deadly WWII, it also showed the lack of humanity and natural envy that exists in human nature. The use of atomic weapons by the United States during WWII brought light to humanity’s natural envy and desire to outperform others. During August of 1939 The United States government became aware of the German nuclear program when the famous scientist Albert Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt and warned him about the German advancement (Nuclear Arms Race). In his article,
“In 1957, with the arms race in full swing, the Department of Defense had decided it was just a matter of time before an airplane transporting an atomic bomb would crash on American soil, unleashing a radioactive disaster the likes of which the world had never seem.” On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, killing 20,000 soldiers and 70,000 – 126,000 civilians. On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 39,000 – 80,000. A total of 129,000 – 226,000 people were killed in combining both bomb droppings. Dropping both atomic bombs on Japan was necessary to end the war because the military needed to end the war, the Japanese were given fair warnings
The bomb itself was already controversial, they knew the destructive force of it, so President Truman tried finding different ways of ending the war without using the bomb; they had options, and the use of the atomic bomb was the last of all of them. The United States had four different options they could take instead of the bomb. (www.nps.gov) Option one included the conventional Bombing of the Japanese Home Islands, option two: invade Japan, option three: demonstrate the bomb on an unpopulated island option four: drop the bomb on an inhabited Japanese City. However, even if the president did have these options, they were not used for a reason. For option one, the United States actually had been doing the conventional bombing,
The dropping of the Atomic Bomb changed not only warfare forever, but also all international relations. With that being said, the decision to do so was one of the biggest decisions made by any government in the history of time. Nuclear warfare was way more destructive and way faster than any other form of warfare preceding. With the United States seemingly always viewed to be “the good guys” it is puzzling that this country is the same one who killed hundreds of thousands of people all at once and essentially ruined not one but two entire cities within minutes of dropping two single bombs. This decision was not taken lightly, and with basically two schools of thought, liberalism vs. realism, insisting to do so or not to do so, and realism won out. Realism and the many counterparts that strengthen this school of thought is what drove the decision to go ahead and drop the atomic bomb.
During 1941 through 1945 a war had occurred in the Pacific between the Americans and the Japanese this war was called The Pacific Theater. This war was also being fought during the duration of another World War against Germany and Japan but on May 8, 1945 Germany surrendered to the allied powers leaving Japan to still be dealt with. However Japan would not surrender even after the major battles between the Americans and Japanese in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Americans then came to conclusion to try and get to a new military weapon which then started the ManHattan Project. The Manhattan Project established a new powerful military weapon known as the Atomic Bomb. This new entirely militarized weapon was designed to force Japan into surrendering because Japan was still willing to fight even though they were on a brink of defeat and they were
Technology has allowed for the furtherance of warfare, from the invention of gun powder to the splitting of the atom. These findings have propelled the leap of numerous nations’ in the ability to wage war against each other. Of these discoveries, the splitting atom spawned an invention that would hurl the world from conventional warfare into the nuclear age. These ideals were the brainstorming of some of the greatest minds in America and abroad. These scientists began to formulate the creation of the atomic bomb, a device that would change the world in ways that had never been imagined before.
In the 20th century- 1945 to be exact- during World War 2 a burst of light followed by an immense explosion with more power than 20,000 tons of TNT headed for Hiroshima, Japan. This was the world’s first atomic bomb, and 3 days later another one was dropped but this time on the city of Nagasaki. The U.S. dropped these bombs in order to trap Japan in a corner and leave them no choice but to surrender. This controversial event has led many to wonder if it was in fact a military necessity and yes it was, not only did it stop the war, it saved the lives of many American and Japanese soldiers, and it stopped Japan from breaking the international laws of warfare.
Secretary of War, Stimson was able to raise the possible outcomes that will come from the use of the bomb on non-combatants. It would taint the United States ‘international standing and reputation” . However, Truman did not take the location of the city into consideration. Furthermore, he was not particularly concern with the targets because he believed the air force would take of that. He left that to the military officials that were in charge of the operation, but he wanted to women or children to get hurt in the process. Ultimately, Truman trusted his officials in the matters of the atomic bomb. He’s faith in his official determined the consequences that would erupt.
It has been just over seven decades since the destructive atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. These bombs were the first of its kind-weapons of mass destruction. There are many points-of-view or opinions about whether or not the bombs should have been used. As always there are two sides to each story; those who are for a cause and those who are against. In this paper, I will discuss the two opposing points-of-view, as well as my own opinion on which argument I find most compelling.
The Atomic Bomb was the deadliest weapons in the history of war. Throughout World War II one of the most stubborn countries to surrender was Japan who relentlessly fought against the United States of America. After failing to defeat America, Japan was overwhelmed by allied forces. Staying with tradition however, Japan would rather die in battle than to surrender. The Soviet Union also fought against America but that was towards the end of the war. The United States dropped both of the Atomic Bombs in order to intimidate the Soviet Union and to make Japan to surrender unconditionally.
Asia so Truman used the bomb as a message to him not to go further.
Between 1944 and 1945, the Allies attacked Germany and the U.S. advanced across the Pacific to the doorsteps of Japan. In these last two years of war, Americans also created a new form of weapon that changed both warfare and global politics. With advances in technology, the Allied and Axis scientists were able to construct the most deadly, crucial weapon, the atomic bomb. Its creation started in 1942, when President Roosevelt presented the Manhattan Project as a priority in the development of the atomic bomb. However, the decision to use this mortal weapon fell into the hands of the new president, Harry Truman. He had to decide whether to save the lives of millions of Americans or to kill thousands of innocent Japanese families.
World War Two and the Atomic Bomb World War II is one of the most historic points in the history of the world. The war was by far the most devastating in the history of the world. There were many controversial actions during the war, but one of the biggest was the decision by the United States to drop atomic bombs. The atomic bomb should have been used to end the war because it saved more lives than continuing the war. The official bombing order was signed on July 25, 1945, by Thos.
“If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one.” – Robert Oppenheimer. The Manhattan Project was the research and making of the world’s first atomic weapons. This was a major asset that led the U.S into beating Japan and caused the war to cumulate. The Manhattan Project brought nations together, took the necessary measure to end World War II, and gave America multiple industrial advancements used in modern day warfare.
August 1945 was a historic event. Germany and the Axis powers had been defeated with the exception of Japan who continued to fight on with no intentions of giving up; Japan did not falter despite the looming threats of bombs from the United States. A decision was made that would ultimately end the lives of hundreds of thousands of people while effecting the lives of millions of others. An American bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. A couple days later, a second bomb was dropped over Nagasaki, Japan. No one could have predicted the effects the bombs would have on both those who came in contact with it and the rest of the world. Both cities were completely destroyed, while survivors were affected with burns,
The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and later Nagasaki is a much contested debate on its importance in ending WW2. While many argue that the use of the bombs prevented callous loss of life upon both sides of the war many counter historians question the need of the atom bomb to close the conflict.