Genecia Tyler

7/18/2016
HIST 1700 400
Unit 6 Opinion Paper
Dropping the Bomb
On the morning of August 6, 1945, the United States became the first country to ever use
an atomic bomb in warfare. The first bomb, known as Little Boy was dropped on the Japanese
city of Hiroshima. It exploded a minute later after being dropped over central Hiroshima. About
140,000 people were killed or died within months after the first bombings. Three days later, the
United States dropped another bomb on Japanese territories. The city of Nagasaki was the second
target. The second bomb, known as Fat Man, killed more than 80,000 people. Both bombings
left the cities utterly destroyed and devastated. All that was left standing were the skeletons of a
few concrete buildings. Japan was devastated from the attacks. It would take them several years
to recover from the attacks. The surrender of Japan was announced on August 15, nine days after
the first bombings on Hiroshima. It was initiated on September 2, 1945, bringing World War II to
an end.
Before the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the United States faced a huge
dilemma whether to unleash the atomic bomb or not. During World War II, Japanese forces were
strong. They proved this at the battle of Pearl Harbor where they attacked US forces and refused
to give up the fight. President Harry Truman knew something had to be done quickly and
successfully to end the war with Japan. President Harry Truman had many alternatives at his
disposal for ending the war: invade the Japanese mainland, hold a demonstration of the

destructive power of the atomic bomb for Japanese dignitaries, drop an atomic bomb on selected
industrial Japanese cities, bomb and blockade the islands, wait for Soviet entry into the war on
August 15, or mediate a compromised peace. (Harry S. Truman Library and Museum) For
Truman, the choice whether or not to use the atomic bomb was the most difficult decision of his
life. He first proposed a Potsdam Declaration for an immediate unconditional surrender but the
Japanese later rejected the request. From that he concluded that the atomic bomb was the only
option left to end the war.
Did President Truman make the right decision in having the two atomic bombs dropped?
I believe there could have been another less destructive, more rational, and morally right way to
end the war. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the chosen locations. The two locations were
residential and productive areas of Japan where several innocent civilians lived. Not only did the
bombs kill thousands on site, but it also effected thousands after the bombings. The bombings
left both a physical and emotional wound. If a tragedy like that were to hit your family, there
would be no way you can emotionally overcome it.
Warfare is a story. The person/country who won the war get to write about a happy
ending. The opposing side, gets to write about a nightmare. In America, we view World War II as
a victory. In Japan, they view it as a senseless and brutal act of destruction that will never be
forgotten. The bombs justified power, but I view them as an abomination. The bombs ensured
that no one could have a chance to retaliate or fight against it. We aimed to attack the enemy
but instead destroyed the innocent. Most innocent civilians didnt even have anything to do with
the war, other than the fact that they lived in the enemy country. No matter how corrupt the
country is, it does not give anyone the right to use such drastic military measures like the atomic
bomb.

References
"Atomic Bomb-Truman Press Release-August 6, 1945." Atomic Bomb-Truman Press ReleaseAugust 6, 1945. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 July 2016.
"Hiroshima, Nagasaki..." Two Atomic Bombs Which Were Dropped on Japan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18
July 2016.
"The Decision to Drop the Bomb." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 18
July 2016.