The Bomb That Changed Everything
August 6, 1945 was a dark day in human history: the day that the United States dropped the first atomic bomb ever used on a civilian population over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. On that day, although sources vary, it is estimated at least 70,000 people were killed as a result of the initial blast. The total casualty count (including the effects of radiation sickness) was upwards of 150,000 according to inicom.com. Three days later, after the Japanese refused surrender, another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki The effects of these bombs were obviously more catastrophic than any other bombs dropped throughout history, but was this act justified by Japanese vs. American conflict in World War II? Some historians say that these bombings prevented an invasion of Japan that would have cost more lives than the bombs did from both sides, while others argue that the bombings only caused mass-suffering and unnecessary destruction. Although it is possible to know for sure, and as unfortunate and tragic as these events were, I believe …show more content…
was justified in that they quite possibly saved many more lives than they cost. I am by no means trying to say the bombings were a good thing, but rather a lesser of two evils. It is quite possible that the Japanese would have continued the Pacific War without the bombs, costing millions of lives in the process. The decision to make these attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is possibly one of the most controversial in U.S. history. In times of war, tough decisions must be made. These decisions always have their downsides. The effects of these bombings changed not only Japan, but the course of history, eventually leading to an arms race between the U.S. the Soviet Union. It is not possible to go back and change the decision that was made by President Truman, but what is possible is preventing such a horrific event from ever occurring
August 6, 1945 was a dark day in human history: the day that the United States dropped the first atomic bomb ever used on a civilian population over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. On that day, although sources vary, it is estimated at least 70,000 people were killed as a result of the initial blast. The total casualty count (including the effects of radiation sickness) was upwards of 150,000 according to inicom.com. Three days later, after the Japanese refused surrender, another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki The effects of these bombs were obviously more catastrophic than any other bombs dropped throughout history, but was this act justified by Japanese vs. American conflict in World War II? Some historians say that these bombings prevented an invasion of Japan that would have cost more lives than the bombs did from both sides, while others argue that the bombings only caused mass-suffering and unnecessary destruction. Although it is possible to know for sure, and as unfortunate and tragic as these events were, I believe …show more content…
was justified in that they quite possibly saved many more lives than they cost. I am by no means trying to say the bombings were a good thing, but rather a lesser of two evils. It is quite possible that the Japanese would have continued the Pacific War without the bombs, costing millions of lives in the process. The decision to make these attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is possibly one of the most controversial in U.S. history. In times of war, tough decisions must be made. These decisions always have their downsides. The effects of these bombings changed not only Japan, but the course of history, eventually leading to an arms race between the U.S. the Soviet Union. It is not possible to go back and change the decision that was made by President Truman, but what is possible is preventing such a horrific event from ever occurring