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Victory in Japan

Victory in Japan. Use of Atomic Bomb. After Iwo Jima…. Allies are very close to victory in the Pacific Captured most major islands Iwo Jima, Okinawa, others Started bombing raids on the main islands of Japan. Tokyo Firebombings. Switch Gears– Development of Atomic Bomb.

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Victory in Japan

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  1. Victory in Japan Use of Atomic Bomb

  2. After Iwo Jima… • Allies are very close to victory in the Pacific • Captured most major islands • Iwo Jima, Okinawa, others • Started bombing raids on the main islands of Japan. • Tokyo Firebombings

  3. Switch Gears– Development of Atomic Bomb • Starts with the Einstein/Szilard’s letter to Roosevelt • Informs him of the power of Uranium • That it can be used for a weapon • That if he doesn’t start developing one, it will be too late and Germany will already have one.

  4. Manhattan Project • The development of the atomic bomb • Performed in secret at the University of Chicago • Enrico Fermi and J Robert Oppenheimer were the ones in charge, amongst many of the most famous physicists in history

  5. To use or not to use… • Victories in Iwo Jima and Okinawa opened the way for an invasion of Japan. • Japan still had a huge army that would defend the land • the war would last much longer • more American losses • Truman looked to the secret weapon of the Manhattan Project.

  6. Secrets • Best kept secret of the war…more than 600,000 Americans were involved in the project but few knew its ultimate purpose. • Even Truman did not know until he took over the presidency. • First testing in New Mexico in 1945 • demonstrated an amazing bomb.

  7. Pro vs. Con Pro Con the bomb would end the war and save lives. If not used, it would be a waste of money. Would demonstrate power to the USSR (where tensions were mounting). Immoral to drop without fair warning. Unnecessary to use- Japan was already close to surrender. Looked bad for the US to be the first to use the bomb.

  8. The Decision • In July, Truman decided to use the bomb. • The US warned Japan that it faced “prompt and utter destruction” unless it surrendered. • August 6-bomber Enola Gay dropped Little Boy over Hiroshima and totally destroyed the city. • Japan hesitated to surrender.

  9. 3 days later, Fat Man was dropped over Nagasaki • By the end of the year, 200,000 had died from injuries and radiation. • Emperor Hirohito was horrified and could not bear to see innocent people suffer any more. • August 14, 1945: V-J Day

  10. Surrender • September 2, 1945 US and Japan signed formal surrender agreement on the USS Missouri. • Unconditional surrender BUT Truman allowed Japan to keep their Emperor

  11. Japan • US forces occupied Japan for seven years, under command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. • Introduced free-market practices and a new constitution (gave women’s suffrage and basic freedoms). • Still known as MacArthur Constitution. • Emperor Hirohito remained in his position, but he had to tell the Japanese that he was not divine.

  12. Yalta Conference • February, 1945 • The Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) met in Yalta, USSR. • They discussed the fate of Germany and the postwar world. • Stalin wanted to keep Germany divided into occupation zones (US, GB, USSR, France). • Churchill disagreed, but FDR wanted the USSR’s help with Japan and wanted them in the United Nations.

  13. The US Post WWII • The economy boomed-unemployment dropped and there was money to spend • Great population shift-many moved to California and African Americans moved to the North. • Family structure changed as women worked. • GI Bill of Rights-gave education and training for vets and govt loans for homes and businesses.

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