The United States atomic bombing of Japan was unnecessary and necessary because of different reasons. The bomb was necessary as it helped end the war a lot faster, and it saved the lives of both American and Japanese soldiers. The bombing was the quickest way to make Japan surrender and end the war. My claim is supported when the article states “Such moral defenses are offered as: the war was shortened and many lives, Japanese as well as American, saved…” (64) Without the bombing the war could have gone on for who knows how long and could have led to more deaths. The bombing was unnecessary because it caused lots of damage, it was mainly used to install fear into the soviet union and japan was almost nearly defeated either way. There could have been another less damaging method to finish off the war. “Alperovitz argues that President Truman willfully ignored Tokyo’s attempts to negotiate a surrender in the summer of 1945 and rejected alternatives to dropping the bomb because he wanted to intimidate and isolate the Soviet Union.” (815) The bombing was used for the wrong reason.
The Atomic Bombing was necessary as it ended the war and prevented the loss of many other lives. Although Japan was almost defeated this bomb ended the war immediately. This is supported when stated, “In order to end the war in the shortest possible time and to avoid the enormous losses of human life which otherwise confronted us…” (63) The bomb was the fastest way to end the war effectively. If the United States would have continued with its original plan the war would not have been over until the following year. That leaves a whole year for more deaths and violence. This is shown when the reading claims “We estimated that if we should be forced to carry this plan to its conclusion, the major fighting would not end until the latter part of 1946, at the earliest” (63) If the bomb had not been dropped this war could have gone on for another year causing more damage.
Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
The Bomb was not a necessity because the United States were unsure of the results, it caused unnecessary damage and Japan was very close to defeat. When the US planned to send the bomb they still did not know the outcome of it. As the reading claims “The point is that none of those who produced and employed this monstrosity really knew just how deadly or prolonged these radioactive poisons would be.” (64) They were unaware of all the damage it had the potential of causing, the US did unplanned damage. The bomb was seen as an unnecessary way to end the war because Japan was about to collapse. My claim is supported when the reading states, “Other commentators note that the Japanese were already reeling on the verge of collapse by 1945, and therefore history’s most awful weapons-especially the second bomb, on Nagasaki-were unnecessary to bring the war to a conclusion.” (815) Japan was almost defeated and although the bomb ended it faster, it did so by creating unnecessary damage instead of waiting.
The aftermath of the bomb was that there was a new weapon available for war if the bomb worked successfully as it did. After the bombing, other countries like Germany who were also working on a nuclear weapon would learn that the atomic bomb was a success and continue with their projects toward their own nuclear bomb. This is shown when the book states “From the outset, both British and American planners believed that the bomb, if successful, would not just be another weapon, but the ultimate instrument of destruction…” (815) The United States set forth a new “ultimate” weapon which would continue to be used in wars for the following decades. The bomb also gave the United States power as they were the first to create the atomic bomb. It was claimed to be “The greatest achievement of organized science in history,” Said president Truman after the Hiroshima catastrophe” (63) America had created a new era by making this bomb successfully.
The bomb created large controversy as to whether it was essential or not. It was necessary because it was the fastest way to end the war. Without the bomb the war could have gone on for almost 2 more years, creating more damage and deaths. The bomb was done very carelessly and without knowing the full outcome of it. It created unnecessary damage. It was also unnecessary as Japan was close to defeat, if they would have waited a little more they could have ended the war without the bomb. The Atomic Bomb was a new weapon created by the US that would be used in all of the following wars by most countries.
Stuck on your essay?
