The Atomic Bomb Essay

“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,

They came, unwarned. On the 7th of December 1941, the Japanese executed a full-fledged attack on Pearl Harbor. They mercilessly created havoc, with attacks that caused the sinking of eighteen American ships, as well as 170 aircrafts. The casualties were dreadful, with 1,177 of those lost lives had been of the crewmen. The very next day, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and thus the United States’ involvement of World War II. Americans of every state were absolutely enraged and bent on their will for vengeance against the Asian country. Within the shadows of galvanized America, Robert Oppenheimer had set his infamous Manhattan Project into action. This project was so disclosed that only a limited number of men truly knew of its purpose. The clandestine project held prior securities to the point in which famous scientists had to use codenames in order to visit Los Alamos, even wives were kept in the dark, and only key scientists could bring their wives along with them. (Source D) This project had been the discreet creation of the Atomic Bombs. Time and time again, this topic had never really dissipated, its controversial who, what and whys prompting generations to debate its palpable purpose. Was the aim really focused for the “good of all?” Was it for America’s self-preservation and wish to promptly put an end to all of the suffering? Many Americans to this day still believe and argue for the usefulness of the atomic bombings, that the droppings were justified.

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.

Bombing two major cities may seem wrong but it was necessary in order to come out as a successful nation. During World War 2 on August 6th and 9th of 1945 the United States was the first country to use an atomic device against an enemy. This enemy was the country of Japan. After the Japanese killed thousands of U.S soldiers with their ruthless and unexpected attack on Pearl Harbour the United States released two atomic bombs on their two major cities. These cities were known as Nagasaki and Hiroshima. After the bombs were dropped the war was put to an end. The use of the atomic bombs is a widely debated topic on whether their use was necessary or not. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not only necessary to end the war but it was also necessary because many American lives were lost.

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

At the end of World War II, Winston Churchill said, “Never in the field of human

The atomic bombs might have killed thousands, but the bombs also saved millions. Before the war even started Japan had a grudge on America for cutting off of their oil supplies. Germany lost to the allies after hitter committed suicide. Japan was the last remain axis power. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, America had a right to join the war and get revenge. When America dropped the bombs, they did their best not to harm many civilians. Also they saved more lives than they took. The atomic bomb was the best way toned the war efficiently.

In 1945, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor without a warning and killed about 2,400 Americans. Later in 1945, the Americans attacked Hiroshima without a warning. The Americans also bombed Nagasaki, but the Japanese were warned and were given three days to evacuate or surrender. The United States’ decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a military measure to destroy the Japanese military, force Japan’s surrender, and save American lives.

Take a moment and imagine yourself as a scientist. You’re in the Alamogordo desert. Your hands are sweating but not due to the heat. You’re waiting to see the first detonation of the weapon you developed – the atomic bomb. You’re asking, will it work at all? Will this one detonation destroy the entire world? Then moment of truth, it detonates; you are temporarily blinded by a bright light and you realize the tremendous power of this one weapon. The weapon is indiscriminate and destroys everything in its path. Now you ask yourself, “What have I done?”

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.

Christian Meza SLIDE 1: Specifics of the historical topic or issue WHO was involved?Both America and Japan and been involved in this event. It started when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor with no warning. WHAT happened?An atomic was dropped on the city of hiroshima to end the war between America and Japan quickly. The Japanese had been using extreme tactics and the U.S finally realized it was time to end it.

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.

The use of the atomic bombs in 1945

August 6th, 1945, 70,0000 lives were ended in a matter of seconds. The United States had dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Today many argue whether or not the U.S. should have taken such a drastic measure. Was it entirely necessary that we drop such a devastating weapon? To answer that first we must look at was going on in the world at the time of the conflict. The U.S. had been fighting a massive war since 1941. Moral was most likely low, and resources were at the same level as moral. Still both sides continued to fight and both were determined to win. Obviously the best thing that could have possibly happened would have been to bring the war to a quick end with a minimum of allied casualties. Harry Truman’s decision to