Was the Un Justified in Dropping Atomic Bombs on Japan?

On August 6, 1945, “Little Boy” the first atomic bomb, was dropped on the city of Hiroshima and three days later, “Fat Man” a second bomb, was dropped on Nagasaki, resulting in the untimely death of over 20,000 people. This was done as an offensive and retaliation by the United States of America, whom had feeling of revenge and an unwavering desire to end an ongoing war as quickly and decisively as possible, against the Japanese for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. However, this took place right after a demand for an unconditional surrender of the Japanese by the Allied leaders by means of a Potsdam Declaration, in late July 1945, was flatly rejected by Japanese leaders. Thus resulting in the use of these atomic bombs being authorized by President Truman.

The months before the end of the war, presented America with an opportunity to employ a deadly nuclear weapon, unbeknown to the rest of humanity. And whilst it was evidently crucial for America to expose their military strength through utilising the atomic bomb, the affects were far more detrimental to the Japanese than ethically permissible.

On August 5th, 1945 the Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber flew over the Japanese city of Hiroshima and released the most destructive weapon known to mankind. Mere moments later the city was engulfed in a fireball that rose up into the sky. Thousands perished instantly and many more would die from severe exposure to radiation. Two days later a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki increasing the death toll to 120,000. The decision to drop nuclear weapons on Japan was made by the United States president Harry S. Truman. The decision to use these weapons has sparked controversy over whether or not a justification exists for extinguishing the lives of innocent civilians. For President Truman the decision

The pressing question still lingers: Was the United States justified in using the Atomic Bomb against Japan during WWII? World War II stands as the bloodiest and deadliest war of all time. It involved more than thirty countries and resulted in over fifty million civilian and military deaths. It lasted six years, beginning with Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. As the Allied Powers (mainly the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) were in direct conflict with each other, many wonder if the cost of victory was too extreme. In late 1941, the process of creating the world’s first, most deadly weapon began. The production of the first atomic bomb was code named “the Manhattan Project.” After months of production, August 6, 1945, America dropped the “Little Boy” bomb on Hiroshima, wiping out ninety percent of the city. August 9, 1945, just three days after the devastation of the first bomb, America dropped the “Fat Man” bomb on Nagasaki. Dropping the atomic bomb on Japan was not necessary, nor justified in ending World War II. Due to the fact that America targeted heavily civilian populated cities (with limited military value), that Japan was in a position of surrender before the bomb was dropped, and the fact that the U.S. did not give enough time for Japan to process the devastation of the first bomb before the second in Nagasaki shows that America’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was entirely unjustified.

World War II was possibly the most significant period of the 20th century. “It brought about major developments in technology and laid the groundwork that permitted post-war social changes including the end of European colonialism, the civil rights movement in the United States, and the modern women’s rights movement, as well as the programs for exploring outer space” (History.net). On September 1st 1939, Hitler began World War II by invading Poland and on September 3rd, Britain and France declared war on Germany. America wasn’t in the involved in the war until December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

On August 6, 1945, the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. For decades, there have been feuds relating to the justification of the bombing. Was the U.S justified? It depends on your opinion. The United States was justified due to the unprovoked attack and bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which occurred three years prior to the bombing of Hiroshima, it was necessary to stop the war because it saved thousands of American lives. Until then, the fight had never been on United States soil. Innocent men, women and children did not have to worry about being killed on their land until the infamous day: December 7, 1941, the attack of Pearl Harbor. On that day, the Japanese took to the skies with 423 planes, arriving in Pearl Harbor, killing a total of 2,403 and wounding 1178. Hitting 18 U.S ships, it crippled the U.S naval fleet in one day. Little known to the people, the bombing also destroyed 180 fighter jets used in the U.S Air Force. This was an unjustified, barbaric act and dropping the bomb on Hiroshima was justified.

Also throughout the article (Why Hiroshima could have been avoided), by it shows what the comments from Henry H. Arnold, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces, had commented on what he thought of the whole situation. Arnold stated, "The Japanese position was hopeless even before the first atomic bomb fell because the Japanese had lost control of their own air." and also when he remarked, “It always appeared to us, atomic bomb or no atomic bomb, the Japanese were already on the verge of collapse” (Freeman 1). Although, it can be arguable that Japan was strong and would not go down without a fight and it was just out of the question for them to show that they will surrender and that the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb in fact to as well save a million American lives (Freeman 1). Even though some may have the perspective of it this way, there is not real factual data on that vision, plus Japan was already at breakpoint because the Japanese were already short on many resources and were bound to give in eventually and could no longer last in the war. Some of these things consisted of food shortages but primarily oil (Weber 1).

On August 15, 1945 Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s unconditional surrender over the radio “citing the devastating power of “a new and most cruel bomb.”(History, par.1) Victory over Japan had been achieved. On September 2, aboard the USS Missouri the Japanese formally surrenders. After the United States dropped the atomic bombs, it put the United States in a dominate position due to the knowledge that they, if not have a weapon of mass destruction, then they have the ability to create a weapon of mass destruction. This also resulted in other countries wanting a weapon of mass destruction for a variety of reasons.

One of the most controversial and heavily scrutinized issue of the twentieth century was President Harry S. Truman’s decision to unleash atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The motives behind Truman’s actions are shrouded in controversy as top military officials publicly denounced the use of such a disastrous weapon. There is overwhelming evidence supporting both sides of the decision, as historians are split in opinion. The United States had been using conventional bombing to try to push Japan over the edge to surrender, but with countless Japanese civilians loyal to their country, invading Japan proved to be more problematic than first thought. Harry S. Truman made the ultimate decision of dropping the atomic bomb in hopes that it would end the war, but the amount of casualties caused by it has historians questioning if it was morally right, “The bomb was unfortunate, but it was the only means to bring Japan to a surrender,” historian Sadao Asada states (Bomb 9). Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justifiable because they would ultimately lead to the end of the war and would demonstrate U.S. supremacy.

Imagine that you are living during World War II. The Japanese are making this war longer and more deadly by the minute. If they don’t surrender, you have the risk of being taken from your wife and kids to a far away country to fight a war you just want to be over. Who knows if you’ll come back or ever see them again. This is the reality for many people during World War II. The war should have ended sooner, but the Japanese refused to surrender, it was considered dishonorable. At this point, there was only one way to end the war. Although it was horrible, it accomplished what was necessary to end things. The only way was to drop the atomic bomb. The United States should have dropped the bomb because it would have saved more people’s lives,

Before the United States dropped the bomb, they allowed Japan a chance to surrender. On July 26, 1945, the allies issued the Potsdam Declaration. This treaty was meant to make Japan surrender without a war. This was a warning that Japan will undergo harsh and utter destruction if they refused the declaration. Two days later Japan stated that they were going to ignore the Potsdam Declaration (“Was the Atomic Bombing”).

Why Do I Want to Be a Kappa? Everyone in life has a desire to be successful, and depending on who that person is, that definition of success is different. Going to college and getting a degree in a field of choice was an extensive goal of mine through out high school. With that degree I will be able to have a career in something that I love. With this career I hope to make enough money to satisfy the amount of bills I will need to pay.

Everyone has experienced a traumatic event at some point in their lifetime. Most people recover from those events, but those who don’t tend to suffer from the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is defined as a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or the witnessing of a life-threatening event such as military combat, terrorist incidents, and sexual abuse. PTSD is most frequently found in war heroes. Despite the fact of there being countless effects of PTSD, the major negative effects include substance abuse, depression, and suicide.

On August 6, 1945, after forty-four months of increasingly brutal fighting in the Pacific, an American B-29 bomber loaded with a devastating new weapon flew in the sky over Hiroshima, Japan waiting for a signal. Minutes later the signal was given, that new weapon, the atomic bomb, was released. Its enormous destructive energy detonated in the sky, killing one hundred thousand Japanese civilians instantly. Three days later, on August 9, 1945, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb over the city of Nagasaki, with similarly devastating results, killing seventy-thousand Japanese citizens. The following week, Japan’s emperor addressed his country over the radio to announce the decision was made to surrender. At that moment World War II had finally come to its dramatic conclusion. Even though some people defend the atomic bombings, because of a weak Japan refusing to give up, the U.S. could’ve chosen a less populated area of Japan to bomb, like the coast to warn the Japanese. Claiming thousands of innocent lives, prove that the U.S. unnecessarily dropped the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Sometimes, the sorrowful events in life bring out the best in your life and yourself. Two years ago, I went through true maturation through a traumatic event that immensely affected me as a person. As pencils were being sharpened and the sounds of school filtered back into my life, I found out my Grandma had Cancer. In an effort to provide better treatment, she came to live with us for four months. That time was incredibly precious and special as I saw my Grandma in a whole new light. I saw her strength, her tenacity, and her positivity.