Within Truman’s first few weeks of presidency, Truman attended the Potsdam Conference in 1945. The Potsdam conference was a conference where Stalin, Churchill, and Truman nicknamed the Big Three, met in Potsdam, Germany to negotiate the end of World War II (The Potsdam Conference). The Potsdam Conference was a significant event mainly because it gave the all of the leaders a chance to discuss their plans so that there was no confusion amongst the allies regarding post-war plans in Germany and the defeat of Japan (The Potsdam Conference). Truman was also able to develop relationships with other world leaders. This conference was especially important due to the fact that the European war had just ended, therefore there were a lot of concerns
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Ferrell, Truman had two main reasons for dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. First of all, there was an emotional reason that had to do with Japan’s surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor (Ferrell 209). After the bombings in Japan Truman responded to a letter asking why he had done it with stating, “You should do your weeping at Pearl Harbor, where thousands of American boys are underneath waves caused by a Japanese sneak attack while we were at peace with Japan” (211). He mentioned how people, “tend to forget” that at the time of Pearl Harbor, the United States were trying to remain in peace with Japan by organizing a treaty (211). He continues the letter by stating that as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, “Altogether, there were between 3,000 and 6,000 youngsters killed at the time without any declaration of war. It was plain murder” (211). Through this comment, it appears as if Truman is trying to make his decision of dropping the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki not as great a blow because Japan murdered all of these American youngsters while they were trying to negotiate peace. He ended the letter stating that, “He knew what he was doing” (211) and that he didn’t regret anything and that if he had to decide again, he would still drop the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki (211). Ferrell suggests that this reason is more of an emotional reason, due to the fact that Truman’s response to Pearl Harbor suggests that he seeks revenge, and the bombings over Japan provide
Ferrell, Truman had two main reasons for dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. First of all, there was an emotional reason that had to do with Japan’s surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor (Ferrell 209). After the bombings in Japan Truman responded to a letter asking why he had done it with stating, “You should do your weeping at Pearl Harbor, where thousands of American boys are underneath waves caused by a Japanese sneak attack while we were at peace with Japan” (211). He mentioned how people, “tend to forget” that at the time of Pearl Harbor, the United States were trying to remain in peace with Japan by organizing a treaty (211). He continues the letter by stating that as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, “Altogether, there were between 3,000 and 6,000 youngsters killed at the time without any declaration of war. It was plain murder” (211). Through this comment, it appears as if Truman is trying to make his decision of dropping the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki not as great a blow because Japan murdered all of these American youngsters while they were trying to negotiate peace. He ended the letter stating that, “He knew what he was doing” (211) and that he didn’t regret anything and that if he had to decide again, he would still drop the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki (211). Ferrell suggests that this reason is more of an emotional reason, due to the fact that Truman’s response to Pearl Harbor suggests that he seeks revenge, and the bombings over Japan provide