Student Essay on Reasons to Support and Not Support the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb

Reasons to Support and Not Support the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb

Essay

Many people will argue that the United States was justified in the dropping of the atom bomb. These people believe the dropping of the atomic bomb was necessary for Japan's surrender and the end of World War Two. Before the bombing, Japan refused to except the unconditional surrender offered to them by the Potsdam Declaration, and in response to the Declaration Japan prepared every man, woman, and child to fight till death. There was no possibility that Japan would surrender. The pride of the Japanese would not allow them to surrender and many of Japan's soldiers fought in a kamikaze style, committing suicide to kill at least one enemy soldier. President Truman needed some method other than the Potsdam Declaration to force the Japanese to surrender, he found that in the atomic bomb. The use of the atomic bomb was believed to be the only way to end the war quickly with the fewest American casualties. The only other option would be a military invasion of the Japanese mainland, which was estimated to produce a million American casualties, as well as Japanese. Dropping the atomic bomb was the only solution that would end the war, force the Japanese to surrender, and save the most American and Japanese lives.

Despite the justifications provided by people, who support the dropping of the atomic bomb, there are an equal number of reasons why other people believe it should never have happened. The destruction cause by the bomb is one major justification for why it should not have been used. The US did not know the amount of damage the bomb was going to create, or the effects it would have on the people effected by the radiation. The dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was an inhumane act of cruelty and murder to over a hundred thousand Japanese, and the twenty-three American prisoners of war that were being held in Hiroshima at the time the bomb was dropped. The US should have held back from dropping the bomb until knowledge of the bombs full power was known. The US should have demonstrated its power to Japan by bombing an unpopulated area, not incinerating a Japanese city. The continuation of naval blockade around Japan would have weakened the already low resources, and possible cause means for a Japanese surrender.