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The Use of the Atomic Bomb

Explore the ethical dilemma of the atomic bomb usage in WWII, weigh arguments for and against its necessity, and its impact on ending the war and shaping global politics in the nuclear age.

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The Use of the Atomic Bomb

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  1. The Use of the Atomic Bomb Should the U.S. have dropped the Atomic Bomb?

  2. August 6th, 1945 Hiroshima is destroyed • August 8th, 1945 Soviet Union enters the War • August 9th, 1945 Nagasaki is destroyed • August 11th, The Japanese surrender.

  3. Development of the Bomb • Theory developed in the 1930’s • Oct. 1939 Albert Einstein writes a letter to FDR • The Manhatten Project begins

  4. FDR dies April 12th,1945 • Pres. Truman learns of the Bomb April 24th • Chief advisor Sec of War Henry Stimson • First Atomic test July 16th, 1945

  5. Truman decides to order the use of the Bomb. • It will end the war quickly • We are already using Fire Bomb raid • It will prevent an invasion of Japan

  6. The use of the Bomb was a War Crime. • Crimes against humanity • Making Aggressive war • Mass killing of civilian populations • By definition it was a war crime.

  7. Was the use of the Bomb justified?

  8. Stimson says yes! • Goal was Unconditional surrender. • Potsdam Ultimatum July 26th • Invasion would cost 1 million American lives

  9. Japanese peace offers were vague and involved conditions. • The Bomb ended the war quickly and saved lives.

  10. Hanson Baldwin - The Bomb should not have been used. • Japan was almost defeated already • Japanese had started peace negotiations • We demanded unconditional surrender but accepted conditions after the use of the Bomb.

  11. We had alternatives that could have worked. • A demonstration of the bomb • A naval blockade • Continue conventional bombing

  12. The Bomb was not decisive • The Supreme War Direction Council was deadlocked • The Emperor planned to intervene

  13. Revisionist P.M. Blackett • Bomb was used to impress the Soviet Union • Bomb was the first shot of the Cold War, not the last shot of World War II.

  14. Nuclear age is born

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