Prompt & Utter Destruction is a book by J. Samuel Walker that details the events leading up the decision for the United States to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Narrative-like descriptions of cabinet meetings, personal diary entries of important players, and first-hand accounts from soldiers in the war are all artfully pieced together to recreate the story of Truman’s decision, overturning many common misconceptions about the era and presenting new information. While Walker presents his own conclusions using the data he has compiled, he is careful to leave room for the reader to make his/her own inferences with the same data, and admits there are plenty of gaps in his information that could potentially…
Previous war with Japan had shown that the President was aware that Japanese could evade his land at any time. Human rights organization disapproves the decision of retaliating by nuclear weapons while political leaders support his action. It was a great lesson but a dilemma situation. Therefore, the controversial has created a debate among the writers who vary in their opinion regarding the use of the atomic bomb in Japan. References Amstutz, Mark R. (2005).…
On August 6, 1945, in response to World War II and Japan’s vicious attacks on the U.S., the United States launched the atomic bomb “Little Boy” on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. 80,000 people died, and sixty percent of the city was destroyed. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, in which killed 70,000 people instantaneously and many more in the following weeks. These atomic bombs resulted in pure destruction and chaos for Japan and its people. Although the atomic bombs destroyed part of Japan and took many lives with them, the dropping of the atomic bombs were justified because the U.S. aimed for the complete and utter destruction of Japan and Japan remained a major threat that needed to be eliminated.…
Another aspect was the lingering effects that the radiation would have. British scientists when considering the possible applications of the weapon said, “Owing to the spread of radioactive substances with the wind, the bomb could probably not be used without killing a large number of civilians”.¹⁹ Scientists were aware of the possible disastrous biological consequences of the use of such a weapon, but policy makers and the people making the decisions were not necessarily aware of the scope of effects possible. “This disconnect between high-level policy makers in Washington and the scientists and engineers who…
The use of the atomic bomb is one of the most controversial topics discussed in United States history. One key figure involved in the decision-making process to use the bomb against Japan is Henry L. Stimson. Stimson served as the Secretary of War under President William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman. Furthermore, he performed as the Secretary of State for President Herbert Hoover. In the book, Atomic Tragedy: Henry L. Stimson and the Decision to Use the Bomb against Japan, Sean L. Malloy provides an extremely credible study of Stimson’s relationship with the atomic bomb.…
During World War II, the United States had a secret program to make the atomic bomb called “Manhattan project”. This projected took almost 4 year to completed development of the atomic bomb. These atomic bombs had dropped two times on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Also, these bombings killed at least 120,000 Japanese innocents. President Harry S. Truman explain why be decided to use the atomic bomb on Japan” Having found the bomb we have used it.…
In the first week of August 1945, the world saw the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare. The United States use of the atomic bombs on Japan, One of the most controversial decisions in history, resulted in the death of over 130,000 people and caused un-predicted effects on physical health and economic relations upon the world. Historians contrast the effects brought upon the world and justifications for using the atomic bombs as a solution to ending the war. The atomic bombs changed the world and brought devastating effects on the inhabitants of Japan. When President Harry S. Truman, made the decision to drop the atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in august 1945, left the world forever changed.…
In his poignant editorial, James Agee urges the public to consider the implications of the atomic bomb, and cautions the public about the force they have unleashed. Agee argues that the detonation of the bomb has polarized man’s legacy, splitting history into commitment and consequence. He describes the weapon as “a merely pregnant threat, a merely infinitesimal promise,” giving the impression that the bomb’s scar upon Japan marked the awakening of a darker force. His diction of pregnancy and promise directs the reader into the future while remaining vague, leaving the nature of the turning point subjective.…
Truman and the Atomic Bomb Tommy Rogers Kilgore College Author Note Tommy Rogers, Government 2305, Kilgore College Questions concerning the information in this paper should go to Tommy Rogers, Government 2305, Kilgore College, 1100 Broadway Blvd, Kilgore, TX 75662 Contact: Rogetomm9920@go.kilgore.edu Abstract In this essay, I will discuss the world altering decision newly-sworn-in President Harry S. Truman had to face and how he had to attack his issue. This essay explains and uses examples of each decision he had to face; deciding whether or not to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. It explains in detail the opinion of those in favor for and those in opposition to the bomb.…
On August 6 1945, a US plane named the Enola Gay flew over Hiroshima, a civilian city that had minimal military value and dropped the worlds first atomic bomb nicknamed little boy over Hiroshima, the initial blast instantly killed 80,000 people leaving Hiroshima a wasteland for months. This was a significant event of WW2 as it enlightened the world on why nuclear weapons shouldn’t be used in warfare. The use of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945 has long remained one of the most controversial decisions of the second world war, whether US president Harry S Truman was right to authorise these nuclear attacks against japan. The US objective in these bombing was to minimise the number of American casualties and possibly put an ending to the long lasting war. This would then represent the orthodox interpretation of this event.…
The decision to drop an atomic bomb on the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, respectively, was, simply put, a foolish, rash, and depraved action that could be classified as a diplomatic blunder, among other things; certainly it could not be seen as either a military necessity or a scientific experiment: for scientists already knew enough about their project to determine the consequences, at least in the short term, such that if the dropping was an experiment, it was the most morally depraved one ever conducted in the history of man; some historians and other contemporary world leaders apparently believed that the bomb would yield diplomatic benefits and impress the Soviets in such a way as to prevent mounting hostilities--almost fifty years of subsequent history attests to this faulty…
The use of the Atomic Bomb was both necessary and justified as it immediately ended World War II, solidified the United States as a superpower, and contained the germinating powers of Japan and Russia. The use of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki immediately ended World War II and stopped the continuation of catastrophic and widespread violence in Japan. The Japanese had an audacious outlook on their offense throughout the duration of the war. It was suggested by Admiral William E. Leahy that, “The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender”(Source 2).…
Teetering to Surrender: A Critical Analysis of “The Shock of the Atomic Bomb and Japan’s Decision to Surrender— A Reconsideration” Individuals see “The Shock of the Atomic Bomb and Japan’s Decision to Surrender— A Reconsideration,” by Sadao Asada, as tedious and boring. Including names of different articles and historians can seem useless and insignificant, however I challenge you to see the strengths within this piece. Asada’s academic article puts entertainment and emotional appeal aside to discuss a different side of the Hiroshima bombing then previously emphasized, due to new information. As a result, Asada’s factual article presents a convincing case: the atomic bombs and Russian pressure were both necessary for Japan to finally surrender,…
“Was the U.S justified in dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War? Discuss the benefits and costs that it resulted.” 1. Introduction During World War Two, the U.S dropped two atomic bombs on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing high death rates upon the Japanese. Many people may argue that the bombings were devastating and have had a dreadful effect on people’s lives.…
The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Abhorrent but Necessary On August 6, 1945, the city of Hiroshima, Japan went up in smoke when “Little Boy,” an atomic bomb developed in the secretive Manhattan Project, was dropped. Three days later, the atomic bomb dubbed “Fat Man” obliterated another Japanese city, Nagasaki. The bombing itself and its effect on survivors’ health was devastating, and President Truman’s decision to drop the bombs remains highly controversial 71 years later. In fact, Naji Dahi, Ph.D., insists that the bombings were unnecessary, unjustified, and ineffective.…