• Home Page
  • How Did Harry S. Truman's Decision To Use Nuclear Weapon

How Did Harry S. Truman's Decision To Use Nuclear Weapon

Improved Essays
Show More
In 1945 April 12 Harry S. Truman becomes the head of the state. When Truman became the president he was rather unaware about the existence if the Manhattan Project and did not knew that the project was in any way related to atomic bomb. Moreover even though he had the freedom to change his group of advisers on foreign policies from previous president he did not do so. Some historians believe that Truman`s decision to use nuclear weaponry against Japan was the legacy of previous the United States president Franklin Roosevelt.
This commitment to following the path designed by Roosevelt was explained by Barton J. Bernstein where he wrote: “Acting on the assumption that the bomb was a legitimate weapon, Roosevelt initially defined the relationship of American diplomacy and the atomic bomb. He decided to build a bomb, to establish a partnership on atomic energy with Britain, to bar the Soviet Union from knowledge of the project, and to block any effort at international control of atomic energy. These policies constituted Truman`s inheritance-one he neither wished to abandon nor could easily escape. He was restricted politically, psychologically, and institutionally from critically reassessing this legacy.” Perhaps it is possible to say that Truman`s decision to use nuclear weapon was …show more content…
More people have been killed with regular bombs and weapons in German cities in Russian front or in Tokyo. No mass killing, especially of civilians, can leave anyone happy. On the other hand seeing a militaristic Japan rise again in a few years, this time armed with nuclear weapons and without any doubt to use on America, would have been atrocious. With the unconditional surrender, Japan enabled one of the greatest transformations of the nation from militarism to pacifism. In the end it is one thing to justify the first bomb but was there the need to use the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, as if first bomb was not

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Why Did President Truman's Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb
    • 2113 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Why Did President Truman's Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb

    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. President…

    • 2113 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Why The Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb On Japan
    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why The Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb On Japan

    Some authors support the decision of nuclear weapon while others claim that it is detrimental to human life. The dilemma attracted committee and experts in nuclear weapons to help in making an approximate decision. The president intention was to instill “fear” to the Japanese leaders in both political and military array. Roosevelt was the founder of the project, which was connected to the ability of the nation to use the technology. Roosevelt understood the danger exposed to the nation, therefore, security was one the factors that affect the development of a country. 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.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb Analysis
    • 1911 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb Analysis

    The decision to drop the bombs was not carried out by the decision of President Truman alone. When he succeeded the Presidency after Roosevelt died, he honestly insinuated to the press that he was not confident to take the highest position of the country. Much to his surprise presumably, when he was briefly informed about the Manhattan Project. Roosevelt did not share the secret project to Truman before he died. Nevertheless, Truman’s inexperience in foreign policy, urged him to seek advice from the members of the cabinet, luminaries, and selective leaders of the United States’ allies. There were several justification that Truman weighed when he approved of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was revealed on his diary of his uncertainty…

    • 1911 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Why Did Truman Decide To Use Atomic Bomb Against Japan In 1945?
    • 1244 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Did Truman Decide To Use Atomic Bomb Against Japan In 1945?

    Truman wrote in his memoirs that half a million U.S troops would be killed if the American government decided to send troops to invade Japan. Winston Churchill a British prime minister at the time thought the number was closer to a million. Winston churchill did not want to send Americans to die when there was an alternative like a nuclear bomb available. President Truman knew ending the war quickly could save many American lives, In a statement he said “We have used (the atomic bomb) in order to shorten the agony of the war and save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans”. President Truman knew that using nuclear weapons could shorten the agony of the war and spare many lives, it would have been devastating to the U.S to lose hundreds of thousands of soldiers which could of dampened American morale. By using nuclear weapons President Truman would be doing many American citizens a favour of relief as public resentment was running high against the Japanese. President Truman prevented all the loss and bloodshed of predicted American lives by using nuclear weapons. Truman used nuclear weapons with the goal to end the war quickly which would save American lives and force the Japanese government to surrender…

    • 1244 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb Dbq
    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb Dbq

    It was August 6, 1945 and little did the Japanese community of Hiroshima know that the first atomic bomb, known as Little Boy, would be dropped on their city that morning. The weapon of mass destruction devastatingly murdered about 130,000 people and left thousands more injured. A second bomb, known as Fat Man, followed suite only three days later on Nagasaki killing an upwards of 70,000 civilians. A few days later, the Japanese surrendered and World War Two ceased to continue. The one man accredited to the droppings of both bombs was United States President Harry Truman. He never regretted his decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki even though he could have chosen alternatives for winning the Second World War. President Truman was not justified in his decision to drop the atomic bomb and could have chosen better methods such as waiting for the Soviet Union’s aid, continuing conventional war tactics and modifying the terms of surrender for the Japanese.…

    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Truman
    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Truman

    There were as many disadvantages to the use of atomic bombs in World War II for President Harry S. Truman as there were advantages. When Harry Truman learned of the accomplishment of the Manhattan Project, he recognized he was faced with a choice of supreme gravity. The ability to end the war with Japan was in his hands, but it would include releasing the most dreadful weapon ever known. The dropping of the atomic bomb. Truman indicated that his decision to drop the bomb was chastely military. For Truman, the decision whether or not to use the atomic bomb was the grimmest decision of his life. American soldiers and citizens were tired from four years of war, yet the Japanese military was refusing to give up their battle.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    The Decisions Of The Atomic Bomb
    • 1859 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Decisions Of The Atomic Bomb

    During WWII, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved the development of the atomic bomb, a project that became known as the Manhattan Project, out of fear that the Nazis would try to build and use a nuclear weapon. After FDR’s death, President Truman inherited the most powerful weapon in the history of mankind and was left with the choice of using it or not. Undoubtedly, his decision changed the world in so many ways, and is largely thought and taught that dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary to end the Pacific War. Conversely, there were a number of alternatives the United States could have considered to avoid exposing our world to nuclear weapons while still triumphing in a Japanese agreement to an unconditional…

    • 1859 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Essay On The Atomic Bomb Decision
    • 1359 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay On The Atomic Bomb Decision

    Truman believed by dropping the bomb the war would end promptly. He was right in that after the second bomb was dropped Japan requested a break and then surrendered from the war shortly thereafter. Robert Newman wrote statistical charts containing data about the amount of lives lost in the Major Problems in the History of World War ll essays. The total amount lost across the world between 1931 and 1945 attributed to the Japanese was around 17 million (Newman, 419). To look at this number it is astonishing to believe that one ethnic group can cause so many casualties across the world. Truman saw that by ending this war, it would not only save American lives, but also Europeans, Indians, Koreans, Vietnamese, and Chinese lives. In fact, according to Newman’s essay Dropping the Bomb was Necessary and Justifiable “ Harry Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki primarily to end the war as soon as possible and save lives”(Newman,414). However, I believe it is important to understand that it was not just Truman’s decision to drop the bomb. In fact the Interim Committee was put together for the purpose of supporting Truman with making decisions regarding the atomic bomb. In a primary document of recommendation the Interim Committee suggests the combat use of the bomb against Japan. They discuss that “others emphasize the opportunity of saving American lives by immediate…

    • 1359 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Atomic Bomb Argumentative Essay
    • 1441 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Atomic Bomb Argumentative Essay

    Germany had been making the nuclear bombs before us. Imagine if Hitler was the person that was in control of the bombs and how much killing that he would have done. Thats another critical reason that we had to be the first to bring the bomb into the war. Obviously, then one can see that Truman made the correct decision to drop the…

    • 1441 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Was Truman Right To Drop The Atomic Bomb Research Paper
    • 378 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Was Truman Right To Drop The Atomic Bomb Research Paper

    Truman was attempting not to bring an end to conflict, but he did not consider that dropping the bomb might be dangerous for the long term security of our world. I simply believe that Truman's decision was made out of fear rather than necessity, and that his decision caused more harm than good.…

    • 378 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Atomic Bomb Decisions Essay
    • 1117 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Atomic Bomb Decisions Essay

    The tension was building between the Russians and the US. Neither side agreed with the other’s politics. Secret intelligence existed that Russia was also working on creating nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Truman saw the deployment of the bombs as a way to influence Stalin and the rest of the world by showing the United States capacity for immense power. Not only did America have the strongest army, navy, and air force, but also the atomic bomb, a secret weapon capable of such vast destruction that no one had a defense against it (Capio 65). Dropping the bombs ended the war quickly before the Russians could become involved. Truman and his advisors did not want Russia to enter the fighting, and have a chance to demonstrate their power. Diary entries by Secretary of State Henry Stinson detailed these thoughts at the time. Stinson referred to the bombs as the “master card” in dealing, not just with Japan, but with the Soviet Union as well (Messer 50). President Truman, as the leader of the United States, was justified in making the decisions he felt would best serve the country he represented. It is his job as President to use the information available at the time to choose a course of action that best serves the American…

    • 1117 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Harry Truman Persuasive Essay
    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Harry Truman Persuasive Essay

    Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States of America. He was aprt of the democratic party. Truman also served as an U.S senator in Missouri from 1935-1945 and shortly as vice president for President Roosevelt before he died, and Truman who suddenly thrust into the presidential light of the trying times of the 1940’s, while serving as vice president for president Roosevelt, he only served officially 82 days as (V.P) before president Roosevelt died. He had to take on an incredible workload from Roosevelt, and Truman was constanly faced with difficult decisions as president. He had to make the decision to drop both atomic bombs in Japan (Hiroshima, Nagasaki). What makes matters worse is that Truman was blindsided by the fact…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Truman's Arguments Against The Use Of Atomic Weapon
    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Truman's Arguments Against The Use Of Atomic Weapon

    Society and historians have a variety of theories and an opinion to why atomic weapons were used. One explanation is Truman’s the bombs were used as an alternative to an invasion on Japan soil. An attack overseas attack would cost even more American lives. Another explanation is based on military approach and Truman’s desire for a speedy American victory. The longer the war, the more lives of Americans lost. Some theorize that the bombs were used to intimidate the Soviet Union at an attempt to secure Russia. Truman defended the use of atomic weapons and explained that by using the bombs he was, “shortening the war, saving American lives, and revenge are the main reasons he gave for using them” (Long).…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of The Atomic Bomb
    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of The Atomic Bomb

    These innocent people were dying quickly. Like 70,000 died when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima (Wells, 24 Hours After). This killed too many civilians. Most civilians had health problems. To clarify everybody was getting sick (Hersey, 54). It was hard to help the civilians because doctors and nurses were badly hurt and even dead. Out of 1789 nurses, 1654 were dead or badly hurt to work. Out of 150 doctors, 65 were dead and the rest were wounded. The war didn’t stop in Hiroshima. In this case, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, 40,000 died instantly (Wells, 24 Hours After). Thats now a total of around 100,000 deaths in the city from just 2 bombs. There were many more civilians than military. Indeed, 85% of the population were civilians in Hiroshima (Wells, 24 Hours After). That leaves 15% left in the city over a small portion of the military in the city which was pointless to kill. Therefore, the effect on innocent people was another reason why Truman made the wrong decision to drop the…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb On Japan Research Paper
    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb On Japan Research Paper

    While it may be true that Truman was not completely prepared for what would come, he had a panel of specialist regarding the atomic bomb to assist him. The President did his best when it came to making decisions like where the bomb would be dropped, or the amount of warning that would be given. The panel consisted of some of the top scientists, and military officials that had been working on the atomic bomb from the beginning. It would be easy to give into the pressure that they would give a person that could stand in their way of doing what they wanted, how they wanted it. Truman did not crumble under the immense pressure that he must have been feeling. The panel wanted to drop the bomb in a rural place, without any warning, but Truman held out, he ordered the Air Force to drop warning leaflets in the streets, and made his first target a military base. The panel made their intentions extremely clear, by stating that ¨the present view of the Committee was that the bomb should be used against Japan as soon as possible; that it be used on a war plant surrounded by workers’ homes; and that it be used without prior warning.¨ While Truman may not have been completely prepared for the decisions that lied ahead, he made the best of his situation, and saved countless lives in the…

    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2023 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings