Atomic Bomb Use

In 1945, the world was changed forever by the first use of the atomic bomb against civilians. This may have been the single most defining event in the twentieth century. Now, the world really could be potentially destroyed, and one false move by government officials could mean the end. This new brand of warfare was first used by the United States against the Japanese in an effort to end the war between the two nations. Yet was the use of this bomb really necessary? This question alone raises several other questions, and this essay will deal with a few specific ones, using Gar Alperovitz’s novel The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb as a source.

First, why did the United States drop the atomic bomb on the residents of two Japanese cities? According to proponents of the bomb, the reason was to end the war against the Japanese. However, Japan was already in deep trouble as it was. The country was running out of agricultural and industrial power by 1945, and its leaders were starting to accept the reality that they would not be able to win the war. On page 334, Aplerovitz notes that Henry H. Arnold stated in his memoirs that “it always appeared to us, atomic bomb or no atomic bomb, the Japanese were already on the verge of col

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It is a widely help opinion that using the weapon was a very unethical thing to do. Ambassador Joseph Davies’ wrote in his diary that, “Brynes’ attitude that the atomic bomb assured ultimate success in negotiations disturbed me” (Alperovitz, pg. With all the information present, it seems that Alperovitz is correct when he implies that the use of the bomb was not good for us in the long run. Eisenhower, publicly stated that Japan would have most certainly surrendered in due time. In fact, several advisors to Truman have said that a mere demonstration of the bomb would probably have done the trick.

Another question we should ask ourselves in regard to the A-bomb is whether or not the first use of the atomic bomb by America a wise long range decision. The United States finally had in its hands a weapon that truly could bring about the end of the world, and the fear of this weapon could be used to intimidate other nations not to get into conflict with us. Next, let’s look at this issue from a political standpoint. Even some military leaders, men like Hap Arnold and Dwight D. In addition to making us look like bullies, using the bomb made us look like hypocrites. It seems that only a select few were influencing Truman, specifically Secretary of State James Byrnes, who somehow seemed to convince Truman to take action despite all this internal opposition. Truman repeatedly claimed that he made the atomic bomb decision because his military advisors told him that it was totally necessary to do so. It made us look like bullies, people who would unleash a destructive force against a weak nation ready to surrender just to strike fear in other world powers. Again, this was necessary for military victory? Couldn’t a mere test of the bombs power be used to show the Japanese that they had no chance, and not actual use? We felt we had to send a message to Russia by destroying human life on a grand scale, which would display the kind of power we had.

Approximate Word count = 1455
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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