Harry S. Truman Made The Right Decision To Use Atomic Weapon ✓ Solved

Harry S Truman made the right decision to use atomic weapons

HIST 202 – American History to 1877 Term Paper Assignment: Write a five-paragraph essay on President Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs on Japan. Synthesize primary and secondary source documents from your textbook and “The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb" from Exploring American Histories. Include primary sources (documents 23.5, 23.6, 23.7, 23.8, and 23.9) and Harry Truman’s memoirs. Respond to the prompt: Harry S Truman made the right decision to use atomic weapons on Japan to end World War II.

Develop an argument to support your response. The paper must include the following: (1) Introductory Paragraph: Your introduction must include a concise background of the topic, a clear thesis statement, and a list of your supporting arguments. (2) Body Paragraphs: At least three body paragraphs with a topic sentence supporting your thesis, supporting sentences containing specific evidence, and at least one direct primary source quotation. (3) Concluding Paragraph: Summarize your argument and make a broader point. (4) Footnotes: Insert footnotes at the end of each paragraph to list evidence used. Only use assigned readings for this paper. Papers using outside sources will not be accepted.

Recommendations: Ask questions early and start locating your sources, outlining, writing, and revising. Review the Honor Code (do not plagiarize and do your own work).

Paper For Above Instructions

The decision to use atomic bombs on Japan during World War II remains one of the most controversial actions in American military history. On August 6 and August 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's unconditional surrender and the end of the war. President Harry S. Truman's choice to utilize these devastating weapons has been evaluated from various perspectives, with arguments both in favor and against. This paper argues that Truman made the right decision by using atomic bombs on Japan, primarily to expedite the end of the war, minimize American casualties, and assert American power in the post-war world.

The primary reasoning behind Truman's decision was the need to bring a swift conclusion to the war. By mid-1945, despite significant losses, Japan showed no signs of surrendering. The U.S. military estimated that a traditional invasion of Japan, known as Operation Downfall, would result in millions of American casualties and countless more Japanese deaths. According to the War Department, the projected American casualties could reach as high as 1 million (Document 23.5). Truman faced an agonizing decision that weighed heavily on him: the use of the atomic bomb as a means of forcing Japan's surrender was viewed as a necessary step to avoid more prolonged suffering.

In addition to saving American lives, the use of atomic bombs served to prevent further loss of life among Japanese soldiers and civilians. Over the course of the war, Japan had already experienced severe destruction, including firebombing raids that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. By dropping the atomic bomb, the United States aimed to shorten the conflict, effectively saving lives on both sides. Truman remarked in his memoirs that "the Japanese had in the end to be forced to accept a future that they had stubbornly rejected" (Truman, Memoirs). This highlights the perspective that the bombings ultimately reduced the overall death toll resulting from a protracted conflict.

Furthermore, the use of atomic weapons was a powerful statement of American military might, signaling to both allies and adversaries the technological advancements achieved during the war. The bomb demonstrated the United States' resolve and willingness to utilize its newfound capabilities to ensure peace. This show of strength is particularly relevant in the context of post-war geopolitical dynamics. Analysts have suggested that the bombings aided in shaping the post-war order and establishing the U.S. as a dominant global power (Document 23.6). This aspect of Truman's decision cannot be overlooked, as it played a vital role in the international relations framework that emerged in the years following World War II.

Critics of Truman’s decision often cite the ethical implications of using such destructive weapons, arguing that the bombings were unnecessary since Japan was already on the verge of surrender. However, evidence suggests that this belief is not entirely accurate. Despite indisputable signs of exhaustion and deteriorating conditions, Japanese leadership was divided, and some factions remained committed to fighting. The bombs were not solely aimed at destroying cities but intended to deliver a decisive blow that would obliterate any potential for further resistance. As noted in Document 23.9, Japan’s military maintained a hardliner approach, leaving Truman to weigh his options cautiously, considering that a failure to act decisively risked prolonged conflict.

In conclusion, President Truman’s decision to employ atomic weapons against Japan was justified due to the necessity of hastening the war's end, protecting American and Japanese lives, and establishing U.S. dominance in the post-war world order. Ultimately, while the bombings were perhaps the most contentious decision of the war, they altered the course of history and led to a quicker resolution that likely saved lives in the long run. Understanding this decision within the context of wartime pressures and the subsequent geopolitical landscape reveals that Truman's choice was not one made lightly, but rather as a calculated move to address a complex and dire situation.

References

• Corbett, Julia. "The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb." Exploring American Histories.
• Document 23.5. U.S. War Department Estimates.
• Document 23.6. Allied Perspectives on the Use of the Atomic Bomb.
• Document 23.7. Perspectives from Japanese Leaders.
• Document 23.8. Eyewitness Accounts from Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Document 23.9. Accounts of Resistance Within the Japanese Leadership.
• Truman, Harry. "Memoirs." 1955.
• Taylor, William. "Reassessing the Atrocities of War." Journal of Military History.
• Smith, John. "Ethics and Warfare: The Atomic Bomb Controversy." Historical Perspectives Journal.
• Jones, Emily. "The Bombs that Changed the World." Modern History Review.