Truman and the Use of the Atomic Bomb

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the decision, made by U.S. President Harry Truman, to drop the atomic bomb on the two cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which resulted in over 100,000 deaths and almost total destruction of both cities. The paper considers some of the reasons for the decision and argues that the desire to end the war quickly was undoubtedly the over-riding reason for dropping the bomb.

From the Paper:

"All of above, by no means suggests that President Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb was based solely on the desire to end the war quickly and save lives. Other considerations may well have played a part in the decision albeit to a lesser extent. For example, the Manhattan Project initiated for the development of the atomic bomb had cost over $ 2 billion, which was an enormous amount for the time. President Truman must have been under considerable pressure to justify the expenditure to the Congress if the bomb had not been used. The potential rivalry of the United States with the Soviet Union in the post-World War II scenario may too have prompted Truman to avail the opportunity to demonstrate the power of the bomb to the Soviet leaders. Most of all, the American public's desire for revenge and to punish the Japanese for its attack on Pearl Harbor and its atrocious treatment of American prisoners meant that Truman would not have felt any remorse for ordering the devastating attacks."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Frank, R. B. (2005). "Why Truman Dropped the Bomb." The Weekly Standard. 08/08/2005, Volume 010, Issue 44.
• "Truman, The Bomb, And What Was Necessary." (2005). Seattle Times News Services, August 06, 1995. Retrieved on October 4, 2007 from http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2135131&date=19950806&query=President+Truman%2C+in+a+speech+on+August+6%2C+1945
• Wainstock, D. D. (1996). "The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb." Praeger: Westport, CT.

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