The Atomic Question

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the consequences of the United States dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It discusses this in light on future developments in the arms race, the cold war and world hysteria of the nuclear bomb. It states the opinion the Americans have double standards when it comes to this issue because they are the only country ever to have used atomic warfare and at the same time have always lead the nuclear disarmament war.

From the Paper:

"The United States' decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan in WWII was motivated by a desire for a decisive victory, an unnecessary act against a country that was would have surrendered without the use of the bomb, and a disturbing use of force that created worldwide fear and horror about the use of nuclear weapons. The bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the United States were justified by the American government as a reasonable means to bring a quick end to a bloody and long war that had engulfed the world for years. However, critics have argued that dropping the bombs was a completely unnecessary act, as a beleaguered Japan would have surrendered to the United States within days, even if the bombs had never been dropped. Further, critics argued that the United States' decision was ultimately motivated by a political desire to assert itself as a military and political power. Further, the bombing is now often seen as one of the cornerstone events that led to worldwide hysteria and fear about the effects of nuclear weapons that developed in the time of the Cold War between the United States and the U.S.S.R. Ultimately, given these important considerations, the United States should not have dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

More papers on The Atomic Question:

• Analytical Essay # 142086 : "An Analysis of the Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb"
• Research Paper # 94686 : "World War II and the Atomic Bomb"
• Argumentative Essay # 128620 : "The Atomic Bomb and the Japanese Experience"

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