The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb

Research Question: Was the bombing of Japan necessary for ending the conflict or was it a strategy that had ulterior motives?

Secondary Sources:

Miles, R. E., Jr. (1985). Hiroshima: The strange myth of half a million American lives saved. International Security, 10(2), 121-140. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://muse.jhu.edu/article/446163

Morton, L. (1957). The decision to use the atomic bomb. Foreign Affairs, 35(2), 334-353. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/20031230

Historical Context:

The decision to drop the bomb by Louis Morton was written ten years after the end of World War Two, and at this time, people began to question the justice of the bombing or whether there were other political motives behind it (Morton). Nonetheless, the case happened because people doubted that the tragedy saved more lives as compared to what could have occurred through land invasion (Miles). At the time, the USSR performed atmospheric nuclear tests increasing the military tension that was already existing. Additionally, the Soviet Union was getting stronger as it continued to invade countries like Hungary, and this raised more pressure in the Middle East, a case that forced President Eisenhower to dispatch the military in that area.

Influence of Historical Context:

The fact that the Soviet Union was testing some nuclear bombs and that people were questioning the decision against Japan, the two inspired Morton's desire to find answers and solve protest against the American government. However, it was apparent to Morton that one of the reasons that influenced the decision was the fear that the Soviet Union would use its nuclear bomb before America, causing a shift of power and also that the Soviets would join the war (Morton). Moreover, historians concluded that the number of estimated deaths might have been grossly overestimated thus increasing the protests against the decision (Miles).

Primary Sources:

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. (n.d.). The decision to drop the atomic bomb. Retrieved from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/index.php

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. (1946, July 1). United States strategic bombing survey: Japan's struggle to end the war, July 1, 1946. Retrieved from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=19460701&documentid=68&studycollectionid=abomb&pagenumber=1

Relate to Secondary Sources:

The primary sources show the decision process that leads to the ultimate act of dropping the bomb. From the communications between President Truman, the military and the scientists, there is no doubt that not all the scientist found it necessary or safe to use the atomic bomb especially since they had only tested the weapon once. The information relates to the questions raised in Morton thesis statement of whether the bombing was necessary or the United States wanted to establish superiority over the other nations. Additionally, it is evident from the military strategy plans from "The decision to drop the atomic bomb" collection that Japan was already at a disadvantaged position and the bombing might not have been necessary to force a surrender. Again, the numbers of estimated saved lives might have been over approximated to justify the use of atomic bomb: this relates to Miles' "Hiroshima: The strange myth of half a million American lives saved" which brings doubt over the estimated number of deaths of both American military personnel and Japanese citizens.

Add to Understanding:

The primary sources have much information from military strategies against Japan, President Truman's communication with scientists and army commanders and the whole thought process that lead to the final decision. The information helped me understand that whether the decision was right or wrong, it was not easy to make, and it took a long process and much consultation from all involved including Britain and Canada. The strategies include information on why the military chose Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the reasons being that Hiroshima was a substantial military base for Japan and it had not been a target of the US Air Force's conservative bombing raids on Japan making it the best place to test the real impact of the bomb. All these made me understand how the military strategists planned for wars and raids during that era. Additionally, plans to release the information to the public started long before the bombing because it was necessary to avoid tension and protest for this was the first time a nuclear bomb was used as a military weapon.

Introduction

President Roosevelt and Congress sanctioned a secret project in 1939 known as the Manhattan project whose main aim was to research on nuclear separation and use plutonium and uranium to produce atomic chain reactions as nuclear weapons. The project was under the authority of the military and led by chief noncombatant scientist Robert Oppenheimer under the command of General Leslie Groves. The research continued in different secret locations in the United States during the war and the result was three atomic bombs by July 1945. By the time the weapons were ready, President Roosevelt was dead, and President Truman had taken office. Although Germany had already surrendered, the war in the Pacific was still underway, and on July 16th the scientists successfully field-tested the first bomb at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Later on, with the success of the test, President Truman issued the Potsdam Declaration which was a final warning to Japan. Although the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was tragic, President Truman's use of the Atomic bomb had more military advantages than just ending the war with Japan. There was information that the Soviet Union was in the process of developing a nuclear weapon and the Allies had to take action to deter any nation against attacking them first.

Additionally, the United States needed Japan to surrender before the Soviets joined the war. With the primary and secondary sources, I chose for my research, I will analyze and discuss the motives behind President Truman's decision. I will also research and state reasons that might have pushed Japan to surrender other than the civilian mass deaths.

References

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. (n.d.). The decision to drop the atomic bomb. Retrieved

            from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/index.php                                                                                                       

 Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. (1946, July 1). United States strategic bombing survey:

Japan's struggle to end the war, July 1, 1946. Retrieved from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=19460701&documentid=68&studycollectionid=abomb&pagenumber=1

Miles, R. E., Jr. (1985). Hiroshima: The strange myth of half a million American lives saved.

International Security, 10(2), 121–140. Retrieved from

http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://muse.jhu.edu/article/446163

Morton, L. (1957). The decision to use the atomic bomb. Foreign Affairs, 35(2), 334–353.

Retrieved from:  http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/20031230