Atomic Bomb DBQ (Background Essay)

In May 1945, the nightmare of World War II appeared to be coming to an end. In Europe, Adolf Hitler died by suicide in his bunker in Berlin and Germany soon surrendered. In the Pacific, Japan was weak but still fighting. 

The challenge was how to bring war against Japan to an end quickly and with as few casualties as possible. Since 1939, American scientists had been hard at work on a secret mission. Code named the Manhattan Project, the scientists’ goal was to produce a nuclear bomb. On July 16, 1945, success was achieved; the world’s first atomic bomb exploded on a test site in the New Mexico desert. One bomb could destroy an entire city. 

At this same time, US preparations were well underway for a massive military invasion of Japan. It was understood that such an invasion might cost hundreds of thousands of lives, on both sides. There was reason to believe, however, that the war could be won without either the atomic bomb or a land invasion. This was because an Allied naval blockade had already put a stranglehold on Japan. The Japanese people were facing the prospect of slow starvation. 

Also, using incendiary bombs, US warplanes had burned out entire sections of 67 Japanese cities. In addition, the United States had cracked Japan’s diplomatic code and learned that the Japanese had approached the Soviet Union to help negotiate a surrender. Surely, the Japanese were suffering greatly. The problem was that no American knew for sure if and when Japan would surrender. 

At home, there was general agreement that the war needed to end as soon as possible. More than 400,000 American soldiers had already died and American prisoners of war held in Japan were being mistreated. Each day that the war continued brought great suffering. 

In late July, at a conference in Potsdam, Germany, President Harry Truman had demanded that Japan agree to an unconditional surrender There were to be no negotiations. But the Japanese government wanted a promise that their emperor would be protected. Truman gave no such promise. 

On July 25, 1945, after only three months as President, Truman ordered the military to make plans for dropping two atomic bombs on Japan. A day later, the US warned Japan that it faced “prompt and utter destruction” unless it surrendered at once. Japan refused. 

On August 6, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, instantly killing more than 66,000 people and perhaps as many as 200,000 over time. There was no word from Japan. On August 9, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. On that same day, the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan. On August 15, Japan surrendered unconditionally. 

Finally, the war had ended. The killing was over. But a heavy question hung over any celebration. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki appeared in American newspapers and magazines. Americans saw the destruction and the suffering. The question had to be asked whether the use of the atomic bomb was justified. To this day, the question remains: Did Truman make the right decision to drop the atomic bomb?

What was the aim of the Manhattan Project and was it successful?

By July 1945, was the United States winning the war against Japan? List at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.

Why did Americans want the war to end as quickly as possible?

Did President Truman give Japan any warning of what would happen if it did not surrender unconditionally?

What two Japanese cities were destroyed by atomic bombs?