Amanda Ambrose February 3, 2013 Period 3/ U.S.

History

Should the U.S. have dropped the bomb on Japan?

The atom bomb was no great decision. It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness- President Truman, (brainy). During World War 2, Americans were at war with the Japanese. During this war the U.S.s President Truman dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which were populated cities, and killed millions of Japanese. The U.S. should have not dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, because Americans killed millions of innocent people, had to reconstruct Japans government, and the dropping of the atomic bomb led to the Cold War. Dropping the atomic bomb killed and injured millions of innocent people. The U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey Group, assigned by President Truman stated Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bomb had not been dropped even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated (WashingtonBlog). Its just inhumane to kill people nevertheless innocent children who have done nothing to deserve their lives to be taken. Wars cannot be won by killing children. The U.S just wanted to try their new toy out, the atomic bomb, and the Japanese were the victims of this trajedy. In this situation the U.S. were being bullies knowing the Japanese were already feeling defeated, so it was just morally wrong for the U.S. to drop the bomb. The U.S. should of just let the Japanese surrender with the little bit of dignity they had. Also, the atomic bomb should have been dropped on military bases not on populated cities. Even military officers who favored use of nuclear weapons mainly favored using them on unpopulated areas or Japanese military targets not cities, (WashingtonBlog). Its still a

Amanda Ambrose February 3, 2013 Period 3/ U.S. History question on why the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some beliefs are that the U.S. just wanted to show how much power they had, but in the end the U.S. showed how heartless they can be. Knowing the war was nearly over there was no point in dropping the bomb. The U.S caused many deaths and casualties that it would have been wrong to not help Japan reconstruct their society and government. Planning to revamp Japans society, U.S General Douglas MacArthur states, Goals for reconstruction were democratic self-government, economic stability, and peaceful Japanese co-existence with the community of nations, (ENotes). The U.S. had to help rebuild Japans government, because their society and government would be chaotic. Not dropping the bomb on Japan would have never put the U.S. in this unique predicament. Beliefs state that if President Roosevelt were still in office the bomb would have never been dropped. The U.S. now has to spend an abundance of money trying to help the Japanese, instead of putting that money towards Americans in need of help. This is why the U.S. should have never dropped the bomb on Japan. Also, the security agreement that was set between Japan and the U.S stated, with a constitution that would not permit Japan to defend itself, the U.S. had to take on that responsibility, (USForeignPolicy). Once again the U.S. would never have to take on this responsibility if they never dropped the atomic bomb. The U.S. should have of known money would come into play sooner or later. Although Japan did not want the U.S to control them, the U.S. still felt it was their responsibility to. The Japanese wanted a self governed government. Since, Japan could not defend itself because their military was so weak, the guilty conscious of the U.S. allowed themselves to defend the Japanese now that the U.S. were a world power. The U.S. more than likely was going to spend money on Japan.

Amanda Ambrose February 3, 2013 Period 3/ U.S. History Opponents argue that the atomic bomb ended the Second World War quickly. However, the decision was rushed and the repercussions led to the beginning of the Arms Race with the Soviet Union. It has been suggested that the second objective was to demonstrate the new weapon of mass destruction to the Soviet Union, (History). In other words, The U.S. just wanted to scare the Soviet Union with the new destructive toy they encountered. Beliefs are that the Soviet Union began an invasion a few days after the Hiroshima bombing, so that actually frightened the U.S, being anti-communist. U.S. had to do something stop the Soviet Union, so the U.S. bombed Nagasaki. Now that the U.S. had this atomic bomb, it was a must that the Soviet Union had one as well. The U.S. again is not thinking of the aftereffects that come with dropping this bomb of mass destruction. The U.S. wanting to be the world power so much now had started another war. The bombing of Japan caused more long term effects to both Japanese and American people. Samuel Gladstone states The three main type of physical effects associated with a nuclear explosion are: blast and shock, thermal radiation, and nuclear radiation; each have potentiality for causing death and injury exposed person.(Document8). There was more bad done than good by dropping this bomb. The U.S. put their own people in danger by exposing them to these types of toxics knowing the effect of an atomic bomb. Those who were present during this attack had a shorten life due to the exposing of this bomb, and not only does it affect them but the next generation after that. So not only did the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan caused short term effects but also, long term effects.

Amanda Ambrose February 3, 2013 Period 3/ U.S. History In conclusion, The U.S. should have never dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, because American killed millions of innocent Japanese people, had to rebuild Japans government, and the dropping of the atomic bomb led to the Cold War which could have been prevented. The U.S. didnt think too much on bombing Japan and the consequences that came with it, although the U.S. did become a world power they killed innocent women and children and that can never win a war. So in the end, the bombing of Japan caused more negative effects than positive ones for the United States.

Amanda Ambrose February 3, 2013 Period 3/ U.S. History

Works Cited:
"The REAL Reason America Used Nuclear Weapons Against Japan (It Was Not To End the War Or Save Lives)." Washingtons Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. Jones, Steve. "The United States and Japan After World War II." About.com US Foreign Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. "History." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.