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The Decision to Drop the Bomb: Influences and Factors in World War II

This lesson explores the primary and secondary sources that shaped the United States' decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. Students will research and evaluate various sources, including diplomatic records, presidential documents, letters, photographs, and eyewitness accounts. They will develop a thesis statement and present their findings using a PowerPoint presentation.

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The Decision to Drop the Bomb: Influences and Factors in World War II

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  1. The Decision to Drop the BombWorld War II1939-1947 University City High School AP United States History Mr. Brown

  2. After completing this lesson, you will be able to distinguish between primary and secondary sources by researching the influences and factors that shaped the United States decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945 Objective

  3. People living in the past left many clues about their lives. As historians we use a wide variety of sources to answer questions about the past. Primary sources can be in the form of personal papers, government documents, letters, oral accounts, diaries, maps, photographs, reports, novels and short stories, artifacts, coins, stamps, and many other things. Historians call all of these clues together the historical record. Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedulessons/psources/pshome.html Harry S. Truman Library http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/index.php?sortorder=category The Avalon Project http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon National Archives http://www.archives.gov/research/ Primary Sources

  4. Secondary sources are one step removed from the event being described but provide the background necessary to understand the the primary sources. Some types of secondary sources are: textbooks, journal articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, and encyclopedias.For example, your history textbook is a secondary source. Someone wrote most of your textbook long after historical events took place. Your textbook may also include some primary sources, such as direct quotes from people living in the past or excerpts from historical documents. Atomic Archive http://atomicarchive.com Leo Slizard http://dannen.com/szilard.html Cold War History Project http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1409&fuseaction=topics.home Secondary Sources

  5. The Manhattan Project Prompt:The United States decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima was a diplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union in the post-Second World War era rather than a strictly military measure designed to force Japan’s unconditional surrender. Evaluate this statement using documents and primary sources as well as your knowledge of the military and diplomatic history of the years 1939-1947.

  6. MISSION OBJECTIVE • You will collaborate in small groups to research, compile and discuss primary source material related to this prompt by locating and evaluating ten documents which can include World War II diplomatic records and cables, presidential and congressional documents, letters, memoirs, photographs and eyewitness testimony and accounts. They will also compile secondary source material and background information significant to the decision to drop the bomb. • Your group will develop a thesis statement and support your position in class with a PowerPoint presentation that incorporates primary source documentation, photographs, and hyperlinks to relevant Web sites.

  7. Content Standards California Social Science Content Standards 11.7.7 World War II and Foreign Affairs http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/hstgrade11.asp National Educational Technology Standard 5 Technology Research Tools http://cnets.iste.org/students/s_stands.html

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