In World War II, America expanded military tactics and extremity of weapons that would change the world forever. As early as the beginning of the war, brilliant minds such as Albert Einstein advised President Truman on creating a nuclear bomb. (“Nuclear Bomb”) This bomb was meant to be the most powerful weapon ever used in military history. The Manhattan Project was the codename for America 's research in trying to create the world 's first atomic bomb. Once America succeeded in this discovery, two bombs were dropped on Japan to end the war. The exploration of new and more dangerous military weapons like the atomic bomb was justified because it demonstrated the power of the United States, ended the war and utilized the time and money spent
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Some historians say that it was a cruel and unnecessary action but evidence points to the fact that it was a necessary tool in ending the war. They also believe that a final invasion on Japan would have resulted in their surrender but a study performed by physicist, William Shockley, proves differently. It was estimated that it would cost “1.7-4 million American casualties, including 400,000-800,000 fatalities, and five to ten million Japanese deaths.” (Miller) These numbers point to the fact that it would have generated more deaths by not using the bomb than in actually using it. Lives of children and people of Japan were going to be at risk in either way that American handled the situation. Not using it would mean potentially another year or two of war and in Truman 's opinion the war had already put enough ache on the lives of Americans. In the historical book, Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs, Secretary of War Henry “Stimson went on to recommend that the bomb be used against Japan in order to end the war as soon as possible and avoid the huge numbers of American casualties that an invasion would incur. An assault on the Japanese islands, he told the president, "might be expected to cost over a million casualties to American forces alone." (Walker 3) If an important leader such as the Secretary of War is recommending the use of the bomb, it becomes clear that it was necessary to use on Japan. According to the Scientific Panel in June of 1945 composed of Oppenheimer, Fermi, Compton and Lawrence, they found that there was no “acceptable alternative to direct military use” of the bomb. These were some of the most brilliant minds existing in America at the time, discluding the much accredited Albert Einstein. They were very skilled and knowledged in their fields and some of Truman’s most trustworthy advisors during World War II.
Some historians say that it was a cruel and unnecessary action but evidence points to the fact that it was a necessary tool in ending the war. They also believe that a final invasion on Japan would have resulted in their surrender but a study performed by physicist, William Shockley, proves differently. It was estimated that it would cost “1.7-4 million American casualties, including 400,000-800,000 fatalities, and five to ten million Japanese deaths.” (Miller) These numbers point to the fact that it would have generated more deaths by not using the bomb than in actually using it. Lives of children and people of Japan were going to be at risk in either way that American handled the situation. Not using it would mean potentially another year or two of war and in Truman 's opinion the war had already put enough ache on the lives of Americans. In the historical book, Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs, Secretary of War Henry “Stimson went on to recommend that the bomb be used against Japan in order to end the war as soon as possible and avoid the huge numbers of American casualties that an invasion would incur. An assault on the Japanese islands, he told the president, "might be expected to cost over a million casualties to American forces alone." (Walker 3) If an important leader such as the Secretary of War is recommending the use of the bomb, it becomes clear that it was necessary to use on Japan. According to the Scientific Panel in June of 1945 composed of Oppenheimer, Fermi, Compton and Lawrence, they found that there was no “acceptable alternative to direct military use” of the bomb. These were some of the most brilliant minds existing in America at the time, discluding the much accredited Albert Einstein. They were very skilled and knowledged in their fields and some of Truman’s most trustworthy advisors during World War II.