Table of Contents
What were the alternatives to dropping the atomic bomb?
President Truman had four options: 1) continue conventional bombing of Japanese cities; 2) invade Japan; 3) demonstrate the bomb on an unpopulated island; or, 4) drop the bomb on an inhabited Japanese city.
Was using the atomic bomb necessary?
More than 55,000 Americans had already died fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. An invasion was certain to be very costly in American lives. The bomb was necessary to accomplish Truman’s primary objectives of forcing a prompt Japanese surrender and saving American lives, perhaps thousands of them.
Did dropping the bomb save lives?
Lewis estimates that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to the extent that it induced Japanese surrender, saved the lives of roughly 30 million people.
Did the atomic bombs save lives?
Was the atomic bomb a war crime?
Peter Kuznick, director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, wrote of President Truman: “He knew he was beginning the process of annihilation of the species.” Kuznick said the atomic bombing of Japan “was not just a war crime; it was a crime against humanity.”
What are the pros and cons of dropping the atomic bomb?
Pros of Dropping the Atomic Bomb. 1. It prevented a massive amount of United States civilians from possibly losing their lives, along with soldiers. 2. The drop of atomic bomb triggered Japan to surrender and this ended the war faster. 3. It showed to the rest of the world that America is superior because of their possession of Atomic weapons.
What were the consequences after dropping Atomic Bomb?
Though whether or not the dropping of the bomb was understandable and necessary for the war remains a controversial topic, its consequences are still evident. The negative effects of dropping the atomic bomb are seen in the development of the Cold War, health issues that emerged, and the technological advances made.
What were the arguments for dropping the atomic bomb?
The main argument in support of the decision to use the atomic bomb is that it saved American lives which would otherwise have been lost in two D-Day-style land invasions of the main islands of the Japanese homeland. The first, against the Southern island of Kyushu , had been scheduled for November 1 ( Operation Torch ).
What were the reasons for dropping the atomic bombs?
The decisions to drop the atomic bombs on Japan were based on several main factors. One of the reasons why Harry Truman dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was that thousands and thousands of civilians were killed per day and the US would like to minimize their own casualties, by dropping the atomic nuclear bombs.