The Politics of Global Annihilation

Paper Summary:

This paper details the various circumstances that led up to the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. The writer of this paper explores several theories as to why Bombardier Ferebee and the rest of his crew were ordered to Japan to drop the bomb that killed 180,000 people. Some theorists claim that America's display of weapons superiority was to show the rest of the world that it would not surrender to futile conflict. Others claim that President Truman approved the bombings to stop further death and destruction of innocent U.S. civilians and soldiers, following the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. This paper also discusses President Roosevelt's decision to provide funding for atomic science research which shows foresight on the part of the government in recognizing a possible means to a swift conclusion to the war. The rumors that Germany was also developing the same technology may have provided the powerful catalyst to action by the Americans.

From the Paper:

"The hope for diplomacy was also waning; Secretary of War Henry J. Stimson recalls: "high American officials had made some...unpleasant remarks about the Emperor, and it did not seem wise...that the Government should reverse its field too sharply; too many people were likely to cry shame." An article by Karl Compton published shortly after V-J Day entitled "If the Atomic Bomb Had Not Been Used" served as a reassurance to all American people and especially to Truman that what they had done was the right thing to do. In the article Compton questions several Japanese military officials to get their perspectives on the events, and finds that they were not confident in their ability to prevail over the Americans but would have fought to the last man, thus by dropping the bomb Truman in effect saved the remaining members of the Japanese armed forces. Truman later sent a letter of acknowledgement and appreciation for Compton's "first sensible statement I have seen on the subject."

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