hapter 12: The Decision to Drop the Bomb Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 12, the authors examine the use of models in interpreting historical events using the decision to drop the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 as an example. The United States and its allies had nearly brought World War II to a close in Europe, but fighting with Japan continued. In an effort to end the war, President Harry Truman authorized use of the newly-developed atomic bomb. The bombings devastated the cities on which they were dropped, resulting in the surrender of the Japanese.

Many questions linger about the decision to drop the bombs, the authors explain. If the intention was simply to shock Japan into surrendering, would one bomb have been sufficient? Why was the second one dropped? Would it have been enough...