World War II ended suddenly as America destroyed two Japanese cities not with traditional strategic bombing, yet with the extremely powerful atomic bombs. As a result of dropping the atomic bombs, the world was thrust into the nuclear age. Just a few short years after World War II, the Korean War started. The Korean War challenged many assumptions held about war within a nuclear era. Three of the assumptions challenged were that nuclear weapons would deter war, that war would not be limited, and finally, that the Soviet Union would be America’s next military enemy. An assumption challenged by the Korean War was that possession of nuclear weapons would deter or discourage enemies of America from starting or waging a war. The United States quickly found that countries would still go to war against them even though they had the capability to retaliate with atomic bombs. Escalations in technology allowed America to derive an even more lethal atomic bomb, then the ones used in Japan. The newest bombs were not as big nor as cumbersome to handle as the original bombs. When America entered the Korean War, the atomic bomb was a legitimate military option. Though, as time would tell it was not something that ever materialized. Instead, America used conventional strategic bombing campaigns dropping hundreds of thousands of tonnage of bombs to annihilate almost all of the North Korean cities and yet, not even one atomic bomb was dropped. Having nuclear weapons was not
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
When President Truman authorized the use of two nuclear weapons in 1945 against the Japanese in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II, the nature of international security was changed irreversibly. At that time, the United States had what was said to have a monopoly of atomic bombs. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union began working on atomic weaponry. In 1949, it had already detonated it first atomic bomb and tensions began to heat up between the two countries. With the information that the Soviets had tested their first bomb, the United States began work on more powerful weapons1, and a fight for nuclear superiority had begun.
The Cold War, which was considered the “years of maximum danger,” lasted from 1949-1962. This period brought an increasing sense of danger to America because the Soviet Union came into possession of an atomic bomb in 1949; an idea many Americans thought to be impossible unless the Soviet Union had a spy in the United States, which they did. Because the Soviet Union had an atomic bomb, a nuclear war became a reality. In Kenneth Rose’s “One Nation Underground” he told of rising issues associated with the Cold War and the threat of nuclear bombings. The Cold War, in conjunction with the inventions of (total destructive) bombs, generated new dangers, fears, and morality issues among Americans, which led to further increased fears.
Since the invention of nuclear weapons, they have presented the world with a significant danger, one that was shown in reality during the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, nuclear weapons have not only served in combat, but they have also played a role in keeping the world peaceful by the concept of deterrence. The usage of nuclear weapons would lead to mutual destruction and during the Cold War, nuclear weapons were necessary to maintain international security, as a means of deterrence. However, by the end of the Cold War, reliance on nuclear weapons for maintaining peace became increasingly difficult and less effective (Shultz, et. al, 2007). The development of technology has also provided increasing opportunities for states
). Like in 1945 once years of life analysis and testing by 2 main man of science physicist and molecular biologist the US was able to drop 2 atomic bombs on japan in this town still not fix to the current day within the reasons for America to form atomic weapons was as a result of Nazi was creating some in different axis power in they was on there list to hit with their bombs that why America created there bomb faster and additional deadly than different they was prepared for war, however this wasn't simple it took America one hundred twenty,000 individuals in virtually two billion greenbacks within the method of creating the primary 2 atomic bombs in no one knew regarding not even the vice chairman Harry S Truman did not grasp till he became President.There wasn't one however 2 styles of atomic bombs used throughout warfare II one was gun-type fission weapon and implosion-type weapon of mass destruction.They created a gun known as skinny Man victimization element that was impractical, so that they created another one very little Boy created of uranium-235 and atom that is created of zero.7 % of natural metal.Three strategies were
Throughout the Cold War, two hostile alliances, the United States and the Soviet Union, were involved in the conflict regarding the Korean War. One of the main radical actions the Soviet Union carried out was the 1949 explosion of an atomic bomb, which terminated the monopoly of the bomb in the United States (“Us Enters the Korean
By dropping the atomic bomb, America demonstrated the power they had. America’s “Secret Weapon” displayed our technological and scientific superiority to the world. This helped deter the Soviet Union and others from further expansion. For example Dwight D. Eisenhower states, “We ought not to need to put ourselves in the position of requesting or begging for Soviet aid” (Document C). America proved once again to be a group of individuals who could rise above all adversities.
For example, the U.S had the choice of using the bomb as a demonstration to show the destruction of the explosive to the Japanese government. (Doc. E) Likewise one might say that the demonstration of a bomb may not have convinced the Japanese to surrender or if the bomb had failed the U.S may have seemed like fools. However, although those are good points the bomb did in fact work and cost many lives of the Japanese. Also before the U.S used the bomb they already had the Soviet Union sending back up to their arms.
As the Korean War came to an end, superpowers America and the Soviet Union continued to test atomic bombs, more powerful and effective. However, after tests on an atomic bomb that had been fused, also known as the hydrogen bomb, the leaders and scientists of both countries were shocked by the results (technological advances are not always the best for the future). The immense destruction caused by this bomb would annihilate the entire human population if set in a war (which is why war is dangerous). At the same time, leaders came and went, each with their different ideas and opinions, as some believed that the bomb could only be used in total war, while others thought that the bomb could only be used as a way to threaten other countries into
The Korean War begun on the arrival of the North Korean Army troops consisted of 750.000 soldiers at the 38th parallel- the imaginary boundary between South Korea- on une 25, 1950 (History.com Staff,2009). According to (PBS, N.D.), Korean War was the first war to provide the confrontation of nuclear powers and the war also showed how hard was the difficulty of both sides to create the right decision on when to attack using the bomb at the right time. Although it might seemed to be difficult, the attacks from Soviet Union and China on behalf of North Korea was hard to repel so that United Nation was asked to help South Korea repelled those attacks (PBS, n.d.). By the end of the brutal war that lasted 60 years there were two millions victim
Upon revealing that America possessed nuclear weapons, other countries would be prompted into an arms race. Using a bomb in a deserted area was considered a waste, since it would remove a warhead from the U.S.’ arsenal and set them back in weapons production. Compton recognized that the atom bombs could not be kept secret forever and also considered not using the bombs at all to stockpile
The atomic bomb was developed in an effort to counter proposed technologies by the Nazis in Germany, who were trying to develop superweapons in their effort to conquer Europe. Top physicists like Albert Einstein warned that nuclear reaction would release enough energy to level an entire city. By mid-1945, U.S. military leaders were presented with a few options regarding how they should approach the end of the war with Japan. Solutions included mounting a joint invasion with the Soviets, creating a naval blockade, allowing the Japanese to retain their emperor if they surrendered unconditionally and created a cease-fire, and dropping the atomic bomb. However, they needed to take into account many variables that would affect their decision. The U.S. should have dropped the bomb to impress the Soviets, to prevent the need for a possible land invasion, and to end the war sooner; therefore, the U.S.’s use of the atomic bomb only served to heighten the Cold War between the Soviets and U.S.
In 1945, two atomic bombs were released by America in the midst of the final stage of World War II. The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were completely destroyed by the two nuclear weapons. Although the two nuclear bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons in the history of warfare, in 1962, during the time of the cold war, the world was altered by the Cuban Missile Crisis. Despite, the Cuban Missile Crisis not causing actual damage to the US and USSR, it created a world of mutual fear and threat full of enemies. The confrontations permanently impacted the entire world through the intense tension, internal damage, and the outcome that could have been.
Throughout history, war has been the most common resort for nations to solve problems or show off their strength. However it wasn’t until recently where mankind had just live and experience a war that not only did it have the potential destroy nations, but also had the potential to destroy the whole world and humanity itself. This was known as the Cold War where after WWII, citizens of the world witnessed the potential of the atomic bomb and feared the possibility of nuclear fallout or total annihilation of the Earth. The only two superpowers remaining at the time were the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. These two nation competed against each other in a nuclear arms race. They fought to spread the ideals of either a free democratic, capitalistic society or a controlled socialist, communist society. After a 45 year struggle from 1945-1991, the Cold War came to an end due to the fall of the Soviet Union. It was inevitable due to the fact during the last few years of the war, the USSR face internal domestic problems such as their financial/economic situation, failed political reforms, and revolution throughout the Union itself. The causes to the collapse of the Union not only affected them but affected the world to present day.
The Korean War was a trying time for America. The nation was getting involved in a war that had little or no possibility of a fortunate outcome. The Korean people were divided among how the country should be run. A uniform system of government looked like it may never come to be. In order to protect one of its vital interests as well as to prove to the rest of the world that America didn’t stand for communism, the United States began taking up arms. The war would prove a most difficult task to achieve successfully. In fact, it was almost impossible to continue fighting what seemed to be far from a worthy sacrifice of American lives.