The Atomic Bomb

A detailed Summary of The Atomic Bomb

No one knows exactly how many people were killed in the initial blast, because thousands disappeared without a trace. The official estimates vary between seventy thousand and eighty thousand. Many more were injured. Thousands died after days, months, and years later from radiation effects of the atomic bomb. This explosion, that was used to end World War II, is one of the most controversial subjects in our nations history. Many will argue that this weapon did not have to be used, that it took too many lives, that there was a better way out, but this bombing was a military necessity. On August 6, 1945, a B-29 named Enola Gay left took off to bomb the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The crew of Enola Gay were told that no one could be sure what would happen when the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. The bomb was dropped from an altitude of 31,600 feet and detonated at 1,800 feet above the center of the city. The atomic bomb wiped out 4.1 square miles of Hiroshima, about sixty !

percent of the city. The powerful atomic bomb crashed with the explosive power of 20,000 tons of TNT. President Harry S. Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb on two Japanese

the U.S. and what was best for the country.

efforts. Fortunately the Americans won the race to successfully construct the bomb. (McNully). Stalin, when hearing about the success of the Manhattan project (the testing of the atomic bomb) acted as if it was not important. "The Americans, many of them puzzled at his lack of interest, did not realize that they had witnessed the first display of an interim Soviet strategy for dealing with the bomb -- to behave as if it were irrelevant -- until the USSR could produce one of its own"(Hamby). If the Germans had won that race they probably would have used it continuously in Russia and Britain until Hitler got what he wanted which was world domination and the extinguishing of the Jewish race. (McNully) Truman's fear of the soviet advancement was a factor in his decision, and once again justifies that decision.

much longer than an air attack, and that would not be the quickest way to end the war. Such was the thought process of American officials, from the president on down. All sought single-mindedly to save the lives of U.S. soldiers and sailors during the crucial days and weeks in the summer of 1945. Many historians argue the atomic bomb by coming up with alternatives. "They argue that there were alternatives to using the bomb: naval blockade, modification of unconditional surrender terms, conventional bombing, and waiting just a little longer to see if the Soviet Union's August 9 entry into the war would prompt the Japanese to surrender." (McNully) All of these alternatives seem logical, but would have taken more, crucial time, and potentially sacrifices the lives of many innocent Americans. Truman surely considered the many alternatives but felt that it was not possible to carry out any of those things and save the lives of the people, and bring the war to an immediate ending. D!

Truman's philosophy on war was simple: an agreement needed to be made with the least amount of casualties and in the shortest amount of time possible. (McNully) Neither side wanted to lose any more lives than they already had, and that was the dilemma that the U.S. government faced. Truman states this when he said, "Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and tho

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Approximate Word count = 1713
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History