Supporters of the bombings generally believe that they prevented an invasion of the Japanese mainland , saving more lives than they took by doing so. Opponents contend, among other arguments, that the bombings were unnecessary to win the war or that they constituted a war crime or genocide.
What were the arguments for using the atomic bomb?
- It led to a quick end to World War II.
- It saved the lives of American soldiers.
- It potentially saved the lives of Japanese soldiers and civilians.
- It forced Japan to surrender, which it appeared unwilling to do.
- It was revenge for Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor.
What are the cons of the atomic bomb?
- The attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki involved mostly civilians. ...
- Americans killed allied forces with their atomic bombs. ...
- It placed the value of American lives over those of the Japanese. ...
- The war was already almost over when the bombs were dropped.
What was an argument used in favor of dropping atomic bombs on Japan?
What was an argument used in favor of dropping atomic bombs on Japan? It would prevent high casualties that would be caused by an invasion of Mainland Japan.
What were the alternatives to dropping the atomic bomb?
“It is an awful responsibility that has come to us,” the president wrote. 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 .
Why didn’t America drop the atomic bomb on Germany?
Simply put, Germany was incapable of developing an atomic bomb during World War II. They did not have the people . They did not have the cooperation among the people they did have. They did not have the money.
Why was dropping the atomic bomb a bad idea?
Others have argued against the use of the bombs, with evidence such as: it was not needed, it was inhumane and it led to the modern atomic age and threat of nuclear war . Still others argue that perhaps the first bomb used against Hiroshima was justified but that the second used against Nagasaki was not.
How did the atomic bomb affect the US?
It thrust the world into the atomic age, changing warfare and geopolitical relations forever. Less than a month later, the U.S. dropped two nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan—further proving it was now possible to obliterate large swaths of land and kill masses of people in seconds.
Is there still radiation in Hiroshima?
The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies. ... Most of those exposed to direct radiation within a one-kilometer radius died. Residual radiation was emitted later.
What were the main arguments for and against dropping the atomic bomb on Japan during WWII?
Supporters of the bombings generally believe that they prevented an invasion of the Japanese mainland , saving more lives than they took by doing so. Opponents contend, among other arguments, that the bombings were unnecessary to win the war or that they constituted a war crime or genocide.
When did Japan surrender and what is that day called?
Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) would officially be celebrated in the United States on the day formal surrender documents were signed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay: September 2, 1945 .
What impact did the US development of the atomic bomb have on ww2?
What impact did the US development of the atomic bomb have on World War II? After the US dropped atomic bombs on two major cities in Japan, Japan surrendered . It provided supplies for the Allied war effort, not just the US effort.
Did the US warn Japan about atomic bomb?
The was no warning about the atomic bombs . They were deliberately kept a secret and were to be used as a surprise. They were intended to do great damage to cities, to showcase their power.
Why did the US drop an atomic bomb on Japan twice?
The explicit reason was to swiftly end the war with Japan . ... In addition to introducing the world to the previously top-secret atomic research program known as the Manhattan Project, Truman doubled down on the threat that nuclear weapons posed to Japan, America’s only remaining adversary in the war.
Was it OK to drop the atomic bomb?
“ No .
The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was justified at the time as being moral – in order to bring about a more rapid victory and prevent the deaths of more Americans. However, it was clearly not moral to use this weapon knowing that it would kill civilians and destroy the urban milieu.
Did America need to drop the atomic bomb?
The accepted wisdom in the United States for the last 75 years has been that dropping the bombs on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and on Nagasaki three days later was the only way to end the World War II without an invasion that would have cost hundreds of thousands of American and perhaps millions of Japanese lives.
