Max Perrigo

04/10/2017

Unit 5 Opinion Paper

Dropping The Bomb

The creation of the hydrogen bomb was not the worst mistake the United States made

during world war 2. Making the decision to use the bomb was perhaps the most inhumane action

taken in the history of the United States. President Truman had alternatives for ending the war in

Japan. I think the research showed the destruction capability of this new weapon and that should

have been enough to deter the use of the nuclear bomb. Also I agree with the people who say that

it was illegal for the United States to drop the bomb.

Some of the alternatives to dropping the bomb on Japan were waiting for Russia to enter

the war, giving a demonstration to Japan of the bombs capabilities, altering the unconditional

surrender terms, and the fact that we could have continued to use incendiary bombs to force them

into submission. The logic to use the Atomic bomb before attempting any of the alternatives

makes me think of the United States as a bully. I think the most important alternative was

probably altering the unconditional surrender request.

President Truman had the option to change the terms of the surrender so Japan could keep

their emperor. However, if Japan agreed to the terms the emperor would have to be made into an

powerless figure in their society. I definitely think this was a viable solution if the United States

war department guaranteed the Japanese they would not be completely destroyed if they did

surrender. In my opinion it could have changed the course of history.

Another alternative was to give the Japanese a demonstration of the power of the nuclear

weapon before destroying a half a million people. The bomb demonstration could have wielded
the capability to force a surrender. Or it could have atleast made the emperor terrified enough to

cause him to make some strategic mistakes if we invaded the main island instead.

Next is why couldnt Truman wait for the Russians to enter the war. Truman was

informed by the russian leader that they would declare war on Japan on August 15th 1945. The

mere presence of the red army would have spelled out the inevitable defeat of Japan. Making it

more likely for Japan to surrender unconditionally, as requested by the United States.

The last alternative to using the atomic bomb was to just continue with the relentless

incendiary bombing. Prior to dropping the bombs the United States called for a 3 hour bombing

of major Japanese cities where more that 1000 bombs were dropped. I know if this continued

across the country they would eventually have to submit before nothing was left.

Furthermore I believe the use of the bomb was illegal according to international law. In

1938 the league of nations made the bombing on civilian populations with a specialty condition

placed on bombing from the air. President Truman was well aware of this law and ignored it.

Although the United States was not apart of the league of nations at the time, we claim to be a

model for human rights and thus should therefore abide by the standard agreed upon by the rest

of the world.

Lastly I strongly believe that the use of the atomic bomb was influenced by the prospects

of postwar negotiations with Russia. I agree with Gar Alperovitz, the bombs were used to gain an

upper hand in those negotiations as sort of a scare tactic. However I dont think the trade off of

killing hundred of thousands of civilians was worth the position America had in the post war

world.

In conclusion altering the terms of surrender to allow Japan to keep their emperor,

displaying the destructive force of the atomic bomb, waiting until the Russians to enter the war a
week later, or continuing the bombing of japan could have made the Japanese surrender without

killing so many civilians. Besides that I think the use of the bomb was morally wrong and illegal

by the standards of the rest of the world. Finally I think the idea of having a leg up in post war

world all contributed to the use of the bomb.

Work Cited

Dag, O. "Hiroshima, Nagasaki..." Two atomic bombs which were dropped on Japan. N.p., n.d.

Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Demarest, Chris. "Atomic Bomb-Truman Press Release-August 6, 1945." Atomic Bomb-Truman

Press Release-August 6, 1945. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

"The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb: Arguments Against." The Decision to Use the Atomic

Bomb: Arguments Against. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.

<http://www.historyonthenet.com/authentichistory/1939-1945/1-war/4-Pacific/4-

abombdecision/3-against/>.