World War II was one of the most deadly and traumatic wars in American history. While the war itself began in 1939 after Nazi Germany attacked Poland, it was not until December 7, 1941, that the United States was forced to get involved. Remembered as “a date which [has] lived in infamy”(1), the Japanese attack on the United States territory, Pearl Harbor, would change the course of American lives forever. Although World War II was a time filled with controversy and conflict, one of the most disputable topics was the use of the atomic bombs on Japan. The U.S was not justified in using the atomic bombs on Japan as there were alternative fighting strategies as well as the fact that they killed many innocent civilians. Granted, these bombs
…show more content…
Due to their devotion and loyalty to their country, civilians were committing mass suicide instead of accepting surrender. However, it was “doubt[ful] that the nation as a whole [was] predisposed towards national suicide” (4). It was more probable that the people committing these suicides were extremist towards the government. Therefore, the theory that the Japanese would rather die than surrender was extreme. These radical actions by the Japanese did however fuel the fire that gave rise to the atomic bombings. As the end seemed nearer, "The entry of the Soviet Union into the war would finally convince the Japanese of the inevitability of complete defeat." (4) It was now clear to both Japan and the U.S that there was no other options: Japan was accepting defeat. However, the U.S continued to drop the bombs making a bigger disruption than it had to be. It can be argued that the U.S was justified in dropping the bombs because of Japan’s unwillingness to give up. Their theory was “to win the war and get it over with, just kill off many of the other side, make it terrible, and the war will stop” (3). Although this theory was genuine, the killing should have been between the soldiers, not the citizens who were not armed. Above all it was the United States that was in fact tired of the war. They were impatient and wanted it over, without any regard for morality and ethics. Secretary of War Henry Stimson states, “The face of war is the face of death; death is an inevitable part of every order that a wartime leader gives” (5) Therefore, if the U.S wanted to win the war they should have been prepared to lose their men in the process, no matter how long it took. It was tasteless for the U.S not put themselves into Japanese civilians shoes and think about the innocent lives ripped away by a bomb. In the end, it was quite clear that the U.S should not have dropped the atomic bombs as there were alternative
Due to their devotion and loyalty to their country, civilians were committing mass suicide instead of accepting surrender. However, it was “doubt[ful] that the nation as a whole [was] predisposed towards national suicide” (4). It was more probable that the people committing these suicides were extremist towards the government. Therefore, the theory that the Japanese would rather die than surrender was extreme. These radical actions by the Japanese did however fuel the fire that gave rise to the atomic bombings. As the end seemed nearer, "The entry of the Soviet Union into the war would finally convince the Japanese of the inevitability of complete defeat." (4) It was now clear to both Japan and the U.S that there was no other options: Japan was accepting defeat. However, the U.S continued to drop the bombs making a bigger disruption than it had to be. It can be argued that the U.S was justified in dropping the bombs because of Japan’s unwillingness to give up. Their theory was “to win the war and get it over with, just kill off many of the other side, make it terrible, and the war will stop” (3). Although this theory was genuine, the killing should have been between the soldiers, not the citizens who were not armed. Above all it was the United States that was in fact tired of the war. They were impatient and wanted it over, without any regard for morality and ethics. Secretary of War Henry Stimson states, “The face of war is the face of death; death is an inevitable part of every order that a wartime leader gives” (5) Therefore, if the U.S wanted to win the war they should have been prepared to lose their men in the process, no matter how long it took. It was tasteless for the U.S not put themselves into Japanese civilians shoes and think about the innocent lives ripped away by a bomb. In the end, it was quite clear that the U.S should not have dropped the atomic bombs as there were alternative