Exploring Reasons for the Decision to Drop Atomic Bombs on...

At about eight A.M on August sixth, 1945 the Japanese city Hiroshima was destroyed by the deployment of the first nuclear weapon, nicknamed â€Å"Little Boy.† Soon after, at about eleven A.M the following day, a second bomb was dropped, called â€Å"Fat Man† on Nagasaki. Together, these bombings caused massive destruction. The death total was well near 220, 000. Only portions of these deaths were from the days of the bombings, with an equal number occurring later in the year from exposure to radiation. More have died since from leukemia. It is unclear as to why such devastation necessary. These targets were cities, not exclusive military positions. The deaths were mostly civilians, not soldiers. Countless innocent lives were ruined by this choice†¦show more content†¦regardless of how the cause of the war should be judged. (Ronald Clark, pg. 428). Unfortunately, his stance wavered during World War 2. Albert Einstein didn’t invent the atomic bomb, but w as crucial in its development. He signed a letter to Roosevelt suggesting that the bomb be created. Shortly before his death, he spoke about his role in the bombings of Japan. I made one great mistake in my life... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification - the danger that the Germans would make them. (Clark, pg. 752). He realized the bombings were an ill-concieved plan, but, along with everyone else, Einstein gave into justifying his action with possibilities. Many see the bombings of Japan as a mistake while others still believe that it was the best course of action available to the military leaders. Despite this, it is not truly a matter of serious contention whether or not it was the necessary option. The public has been told that it saved thousands of American soldiers by making it unnecessary for the army to invade Japan. However, this is simply untrue, as explained by the commander in chief of the U.S. Fleet and chief of Naval Operations during the war, Ernest J. King. â€Å"The President in giving his approval for these [atomic] attacks appeared to believe that many thousands of American troops would beShow MoreRelatedHiroshima, a Tragedy That Could Have Been Averted? Essay1951 Words   |  8 Pagesare many reasons why the actions taken by the United States and specifically President Truman to drop the A-Bomb on Hiroshima were absolutely unnecessary. On the other hand there is an abundant amount of so called â€Å"justifications† as to why it was so imperative for the U.S. to distinguish the lives of sixty six thousand civilians in the blink of an eye, and cause catastrophic destruction and disparity that would have a lasting effect for decades to come. Many believe the atomic bomb should haveRead MoreTruman Decision5419 Words   |  22 PagesTruman Decision President Harry S. Truman decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan is perhaps the most controversial act of policy in United States history. One of the many different reasons given for the use of this weapon was the shock effect it would produce in the Japanese foreign policy circle. While the shock of the Japanese will be discussed later, it is important to note that it had a similar effect on the west. This shock effect has caused countless authors to speculate as to the motivationRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagessuperpowers and the transition to a new century and millennium. Hecht and Edwards underscore the vital connections between the genesis of and incessant innovations in computer technologies and the development of both nuclear power generators and atomic weaponry, and they also examine the ways that advances in these enmeshed fields of scientific and technological endeavor became emblematic in the cold war decades of national power and prestige, as well as symbols of modernity itself. They go well