On July 16, 1945, Truman received news that the first ever atomic bomb was ready to be tested. This weapon was by no means just an experiment meant to store away and have in the event that conflict broke out and the US needed an effective way to protect itself from the offenders. The creation behind this weapon was solely to force Japan to surrender and allow the end of World War II. However, using it had been questionable ever since its initial creation, and especially after it had been tested for effectiveness. A weapon as powerful as the atomic bomb would cause a vast amount of death and destruction, the morality of using it was constantly questioned in different aspects. Due to the high pressure and fear of losing too many lives in a land
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During the time period of decision making, President Truman of the United States, along with Winston Churchill of Great Britain and Josef Stalin of the Soviet Union, gathered at the Potsdam Conference in Germany to discuss whether or not the bombs should be dropped. For Truman alone, it was one of the most difficult decisions of his life, due to all the consequences that may arise in the aftermath (Understanding the Decision to Drop the Bomb, 2012). Churchill also realized how heavy this choice was, knowing full well that the extraordinary power could lead to many other nations becoming interested in such weapons. However, after the matter was brought up to Stalin, it is speculated he didn’t necessarily understand the significance of the information he had been told, and he simply nodded and made arrangements for his nuclear scientist to see the US experts the following day (Houghton-Mifflin, 1953, p. 69-70). Because tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States had already been arising, Truman began to fear that Stalin would not only take interest in the weapons, but he would most likely attempt to begin experiments as well. The rivalry between the two nations most likely contributed to the overall decision, in the aspect that the United States had attempted to intimidate or impress the USSR with the newly-developed, overpowered weapon (The Manhattan Project: Making the …show more content…
This simply means that he had to consider all other aspects, but mainly focus on what was right in terms of war. Because of the conflict and fighting that had already been occurring, including the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor a few years prior, Truman did have the justification he needed to give the order. The atomic bombs would make an end to the war much quicker, but would also provide vengeance to those of the Pearl Harbor attacks and give justice to the funding and time put into creating it. Alternatives had been brought, most suggesting that bombing a less populated area would be enough to intimidate them. However, Truman dismissed this and stated it wasn’t go to be enough to force them to surrender. “The decision to drop the bombs was ‘purely military’, meaning that it was made in order to save American lives, rather than allowing our enemies to only kill more soldiers and invade our land” (The Decision to Drop the Bomb). Truman himself even admits that over all the other aspects, putting himself in a military mindset gave view to each of the other categories on its own. Above all, Truman was only avoiding a land invasion and the mass killings of American soldiers, fearing that too many lives would be lost from both sides in that specific case. Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs was made in regards to political, controversial, cultural, and military events, but mostly to avoid
During the time period of decision making, President Truman of the United States, along with Winston Churchill of Great Britain and Josef Stalin of the Soviet Union, gathered at the Potsdam Conference in Germany to discuss whether or not the bombs should be dropped. For Truman alone, it was one of the most difficult decisions of his life, due to all the consequences that may arise in the aftermath (Understanding the Decision to Drop the Bomb, 2012). Churchill also realized how heavy this choice was, knowing full well that the extraordinary power could lead to many other nations becoming interested in such weapons. However, after the matter was brought up to Stalin, it is speculated he didn’t necessarily understand the significance of the information he had been told, and he simply nodded and made arrangements for his nuclear scientist to see the US experts the following day (Houghton-Mifflin, 1953, p. 69-70). Because tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States had already been arising, Truman began to fear that Stalin would not only take interest in the weapons, but he would most likely attempt to begin experiments as well. The rivalry between the two nations most likely contributed to the overall decision, in the aspect that the United States had attempted to intimidate or impress the USSR with the newly-developed, overpowered weapon (The Manhattan Project: Making the …show more content…
This simply means that he had to consider all other aspects, but mainly focus on what was right in terms of war. Because of the conflict and fighting that had already been occurring, including the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor a few years prior, Truman did have the justification he needed to give the order. The atomic bombs would make an end to the war much quicker, but would also provide vengeance to those of the Pearl Harbor attacks and give justice to the funding and time put into creating it. Alternatives had been brought, most suggesting that bombing a less populated area would be enough to intimidate them. However, Truman dismissed this and stated it wasn’t go to be enough to force them to surrender. “The decision to drop the bombs was ‘purely military’, meaning that it was made in order to save American lives, rather than allowing our enemies to only kill more soldiers and invade our land” (The Decision to Drop the Bomb). Truman himself even admits that over all the other aspects, putting himself in a military mindset gave view to each of the other categories on its own. Above all, Truman was only avoiding a land invasion and the mass killings of American soldiers, fearing that too many lives would be lost from both sides in that specific case. Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs was made in regards to political, controversial, cultural, and military events, but mostly to avoid