From order of President Truman, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus ending World War Two. President Truman’s hasty decision is not one to be honorable. This choice by the president was made with ignorance, lack of empathy, and lack of critical thinking. The bombing is unjustified due to Japan’s inevitable surrender, the amount of civilian casualties, and alternative opportunities to the bombing. President Truman made a hasty decision due to his own Chief of Staff denouncing the bombing. In document B, Admiral William E. Leahy stated that the United States now created a standard similar to those from the Dark Ages. Leahy’s statements are quite influential because Leahy is known to be a knowledgeable
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Document J notes that the total casualties from both Hiroshima and Nagasaki was about 200,000. The cause of death in Nagasaki was 95% burns, and 60% in Hiroshima. Truman’s attack on Japan was not considered a war crime at the time due to the Law of War being established after World War Two, but Truman knew this would take lives away from people who had done nothing wrong. Document I states that there was opposition to dropping the bomb. Leahy advised Truman by stating that the bombing would take lives away from innocent civilians. Truman stated later that he had no remorse in bombing the two cities. Truman’s lack of sympathy was apparent for not considering the amount of death and suffering he would cause. Document F and document D outlines the experiences of two Japanese people during the bombings. Being only 13, Yoshitaka Kawamoto witnessed one of his classmates’ skull cracked open, one eye left. Michihiko Hachiya, a Japanese physician instantly started bleeding on one side of his body. Once a great city, Hachiya describes it as a flaming prairie. Obviously both horrific experiences, but these experiences could’ve been avoided. To this day, survivors from the bombing are still struggling to live out their lives. Some of the survivors of the bombing experience nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting blood. Truman is only to blame for the pain and suffering he caused to innocent
Document J notes that the total casualties from both Hiroshima and Nagasaki was about 200,000. The cause of death in Nagasaki was 95% burns, and 60% in Hiroshima. Truman’s attack on Japan was not considered a war crime at the time due to the Law of War being established after World War Two, but Truman knew this would take lives away from people who had done nothing wrong. Document I states that there was opposition to dropping the bomb. Leahy advised Truman by stating that the bombing would take lives away from innocent civilians. Truman stated later that he had no remorse in bombing the two cities. Truman’s lack of sympathy was apparent for not considering the amount of death and suffering he would cause. Document F and document D outlines the experiences of two Japanese people during the bombings. Being only 13, Yoshitaka Kawamoto witnessed one of his classmates’ skull cracked open, one eye left. Michihiko Hachiya, a Japanese physician instantly started bleeding on one side of his body. Once a great city, Hachiya describes it as a flaming prairie. Obviously both horrific experiences, but these experiences could’ve been avoided. To this day, survivors from the bombing are still struggling to live out their lives. Some of the survivors of the bombing experience nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting blood. Truman is only to blame for the pain and suffering he caused to innocent