Nuclear Bombs

The beginnings of the Nuclear Age started when Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin Roosevelt warning him of a dangerous weapon the Nazis had begun researching, known as the atomic bomb. (1) Though, when President Roosevelt first read this letter, he was too preoccupied with events in Europe to be bothered with such ideas. He at the time did not take the creation of such weapon to seriously, nor did he believe America had the resources for such a task. (2) Finally, on October 19, 1939 President Roosevelt wrote back to Einstein stating that the United States had begun to research the power of uranium. (2) With the help of the British, whom reluctantly gave the United States leadership on this project, in June of 1942 the Manhattan Project had begun, though most of the world had no idea that this was even happening, not even Vice President Truman. (2)

In the 1930’s and the 1940’s there was a change in American leadership. Having this change not only changed the outcome of the war that we were currently in, but how the rest of the world would view our country after the war. The decision that Harry Truman was forced to make on the choice to drop the atomic bomb or to attempt more land invasions was a choice that shaped the outcome of the war. There were major influences and side effects from the dropping of the atomic bomb and what it did to the country of Japan. Having the option and the weight of the moral decision weighing on Truman’s shoulders about what decision should be made, he was the only one who was capable of making the decision that shaped the outcome of the war. Having dropped the bomb on Japan, as a statement of power and a means to an end in a form was the only way that American lives could have been spared as comparing that to the lives that would have been lost in a land invasion. Knowing what the issues with the bomb was; one has to look at the moral issues, the results of the incident, and also how it played in the rest of the development of the world.

With the start of World War II the race for the first atomic bomb started. With Germany under Hitler’s reign, the Nazis began separating uranium to form the first atomic bomb to control the world. The push for the United States build the first atomic bomb began with this knowledge. With the help of several scientists the United States succeeded in building the atomic bomb first. Two atomic bombs were used; a uranium bomb on Hiroshima and a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki. Along with the many deaths were six stages of A-bomb illness which includes acute stages, atomic bomb trauma, A-bomb radiation illness, radiation blood injury at lethal dosage, blood injuries, and secondary radiation illness. Seven unhealed scars were also an effect of the atomic bombs that includes keloids, A-bomb cataracts, leukemia, cancers, chromosome changes, exposure in utero and microcephaly, and genetic surveys. Regulations and guidance were set in place soon after the bombings to protect the people of the world based on the information that was gathered and it has changed over the years based on the new information that was learned. With the use of the atomic bombs in World War II, a lot of pain and suffering was caused, but a great deal of information was learned to help protect future generations from radiation.

“ The atom bomb was no ‘great decision.’ It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” This quote was said by Harry S. Truman the first President who used an atomic bomb. The program that was able to create this monstrous power was known as the Manhattan Project. Creating this weapon was their main priority. The United States was in the midst of World War 2. The atomic bomb is considered to be the main factor that ended that war. It was a race against the multiple enemies of the United States, to be the first to acquire this power and use it when necessary. The Manhattan Project was kept strictly confidential and, created the foundation of the future and more powerful nuclear weapons to come.

July 16, 1939 began as a rather ordinary day for Einstein. Two former students, now colleagues came to visit. Through this visit Einstein learned that nuclear fission was not simply theoretically possible, but a reality. He immediately recognized the repercussions; both good and evil. He realized that if he did nothing, Germany (Hitler) would be able not only to build an atomic bomb, but also to monopolize all known all sources of the precursor materials. Thus, to do nothing, would be to aid the Nazis. To write a letter, use his influence, to make sure the United States would have access to uranium (from Belgium), he was encouraging the development of a device whose sole purpose would be a weapon more devastating than any other ever imagined.

Research Question: How was the dropping of the nuclear bomb seen however valid and political focal points of society with the goal to prevent socialism? Secondary Sources: Morton, L. (1957). The decision to use the atomic bomb. Foreign Affairs, 35(2), 334–353.

During the 20th century, specifically the year 1945, the United States of America had two atomic bombs that the commander and chief, and president at the time, Harry Truman, knew about. President Truman plan was to drop the bombs on two of Japans cities, Hiroshima first and then Nagasaki. Truman’s plans went accordingly, which to this day leads to a very controversial topic on whether or not dropping the atomic bombs was a good or bad thing. There is evidence and reasoning to back up both claims, in which everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, in my opinion, I believe the choice of Harry Truman to drop the two atomic bombs was the right choice because it saved lives, helped end the war faster, and it was merely the only choice for the sake of the American soldiers.

Ever since George Washington declared that the United States would remain neutral in any emerging European conflicts, the country has attempted to follow this policy as long as possible. This does not exclude when President Franklin Roosevelt invoked the Neutrality Acts that Congress had passed, in hopes of keeping the United States from entering World War II (From Neutrality to War). However, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the country had no choice but to declare war on Japan, and enter World War II. Right away, the United States joined the Allies, which were made up of Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, which was lead by Joseph Stalin (Sullivan, 6). Even though the Allies were in an agreement to work together

Bombing of civilian centers in WWII by Germany, Britain and the US was immoral and not necessary because millions of people were killed without reason in strict violation of laws protecting civilians. Intentional bombing of civilian centers did not disrupt military functions of the enemy; it simply killed civilians. This unnecessary death it not only immoral but also illegal. According to accepted principles of war, there must be “military necessity” and a “legitimate military objective” in order for an attack to be allowed. Furthermore, the Allies admit deliberately targeting civilian centers in a pamphlet dropped by the RAF in Germany: "We are bombing Germany, city by city, and ever more terribly, in order to make it impossible for you to

The harbinger of Death was finally at the command of humankind. The arguably darkest days of armed conflict, characterized by the brightest of lights, was a result of unlocking the power of the atom. In an instant and a flash, at the Trinity test site, the nuclear age was born. The United States Army had its bomb, but the bomb was just the beginning. The United States Army Air Forces realized not only the tactical advantage of wielding such power, but the most effective means of exercising that power. The inception of the 509th Composite Group, 1st Atomic Bombardment coupled with the advent of the B-29 Superfortress offered the United States the means to devastate Japan, destroy their will to fight, and ultimately silence the Japanese

In 1942, my predosessor Presidend Roosevelt approved the orginazation and funding of a top secret project called the Manhatan Project. This project 's intention was to develope a weapon, using nuclear power that could be used against enemies of the United States. President Roosevelt felt the need to reach this landmark before any other conuntry beat the United States to it. Having this type of weapon would also help establish the country as powerful and more advanced than others. When President Roosevelt unfourtuantly died on April 12, I, Harry Turman, became President of the United States and overseen this project. In July of 1945 the project produced a weapon so powerful it could help end the war in the pacific theater. I approved the use of two atomic bomb on the country of Japan that ended the war completly.

It is true to say that the Japanese deserved to have two atomic bombs dropped on two industrial cities in the span of just around three days? Is it also true to say that is was alright for thousands of innocent Japanese lives to be sacrificed for the sake of showing the power of the United States to the then Soviet Union? Is the use of the atomic bomb something that can be justified even after it have killed and has a lasting effect on certain lands in Japan? This cannot be justified because of the way America used the sacrifice of Japanese lives, the diplomatic way that America did not decide to take, and the fact that Japan was not given time to react to the first bomb that dropped before yet another one had been dropped on another city.

Ever since World War two we have feared destruction and what could be the aftermath of nuclear bombs. We had a whole era in history to dedicate being terrified of weapons of mass destruction. We had bomb drills, duck and cover drills. The United States had TV drills if an attack were to happen on United States soil. For many Americans this was not hysteria, but a reality that could happen.

The homebuilt atomic bomb in both films works as a mechanism for a normal citizen to bargain power and control with the authority. In Taiyo, there was no goodness in creating an atomic bomb. Kido was a person of lower status, often being mocked and looked down on. His dream was to become a ‘hero’. Later, he decided to build a bomb to gain control over the authority, which indirectly made him overcome his insecurity. The song that was played while Kido was building the bomb, was a song of revolution movement, made it feel almost as if Kido was trying to overtake the government by building the bomb himself. As the story progressed, Kido’s attachment to atomic bomb was growing and making him turned a little psychopathic. It implies that the atomic

Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can demolish a whole city, potentially killing millions, and exposed the natural environment and lives of future generations through its long-term catastrophic effects. According to the UNODA- United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (2011), “Although nuclear weapons have only been used twice in warfare- in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945-about 22,000 reportedly remains in our world today and there have been over 2,000 nuclear tests conducted to date.” Nuclear weapons have been viewed as a threat to peace by world leaders. There have been debates of whether to let Iran and North Korea acquire nuclear weapons, leaders all around the world along with Liberals believe that it is a threat to peace and should limit the spread whereas neo realist have another belief that nuclear weapon can make the world a peaceful place. Because states would fear to attack each other. For example the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and cold war- there were only threats and war did not happen because of nuclear deterrence. The Cuban missile crisis has frequently been portrayed as the only time where the world stood in the point of nuclear war between the superpowers. This is an example of how nuclear weapons were used to threaten the rival. Another examples would be that of India and Pakistan before they acquire nuclear weapon , they fought three bloody wars after having their independence but since 1998, after acquiring