One of the most controversial decisions in American history was Harry S. Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs on Japan during World War II. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and killed between 70,000 and 80,000 Japanese people. After three days, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and killed 70,000 people immediately. Radiation from the bombs led to extensive damage as well. The Japanese then chose to surrender on September 2 which marked the end of the great war. Many people wonder if the decision to drop atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a military necessity. This decision was a military necessity for multiple reasons. Many lives needed to be spared, a land
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Paul Fussell, U.S Infantryman in Europe stated, “When bombs were dropped and the news began to circulate that we would not be obligated in a few months to rush up the beaches near Tokyo assault-firing while being machine-gunned, mortared and shelled we broke down and cried with relief and joy”(Document H). A land invasion of Japan would have been inevitable if the bombs had not been dropped on Japan. A day similar to D-Day would have occurred which would have undoubtedly created more problems. The American soldiers rejoiced at the bombing of Japan because they knew that the fighting was over and their lives would not be at risk anymore in the war. Document E depicts a physical map of Japan. When analyzing the document, it can be seen that Japan is an island. This would have made it difficult for the U.S. to conduct a full-scale invasion of the Japanese home islands. Japan is also located all the way across the Pacific Ocean which would have made the invasion even more difficult. Americans would have had to travel across the vast ocean for a long period of time while trying to avoid attacks just to reach the island. This would have been a very inefficient way to defeat the
Paul Fussell, U.S Infantryman in Europe stated, “When bombs were dropped and the news began to circulate that we would not be obligated in a few months to rush up the beaches near Tokyo assault-firing while being machine-gunned, mortared and shelled we broke down and cried with relief and joy”(Document H). A land invasion of Japan would have been inevitable if the bombs had not been dropped on Japan. A day similar to D-Day would have occurred which would have undoubtedly created more problems. The American soldiers rejoiced at the bombing of Japan because they knew that the fighting was over and their lives would not be at risk anymore in the war. Document E depicts a physical map of Japan. When analyzing the document, it can be seen that Japan is an island. This would have made it difficult for the U.S. to conduct a full-scale invasion of the Japanese home islands. Japan is also located all the way across the Pacific Ocean which would have made the invasion even more difficult. Americans would have had to travel across the vast ocean for a long period of time while trying to avoid attacks just to reach the island. This would have been a very inefficient way to defeat the