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Unit 5 Performance Assessment: PRO Atomic Bomb

Last updated over 1 year ago
16 questions
Directions: Below are various primary and secondary sources surrounding the decision to drop the atomic bomb. As you analyze each source, think about how you could use it as evidence to support your argument FOR dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Source A
Estimates made by US military generals of American casualities if the United States invaded Japan.

Plans were being made up for invading Japan, with the United States Army and marine corps being involved. Americans had deep concerns about the fierce resistance on the ground in Japan, and the US generals were relieved that the atomic bomb meant that invasion was no longer required.

An invasion would have cost several hundred thousand American lives before that victory was achieved. Even though the Japanese forces would have weakened, they could have delayed the end of the war for months. By dropping two bombs on two cities, the United States persuaded the Japanese government to surrender, and it only took two bomber planes.
1

How many US casualties did the Joint Chiefs of Staff expect if the United States went through with a land invasion of Japan?

1

How could you use this source as support for your argument for dropping the atomic bomb?

Source B
The Potsdam Declaration was an ultimatum issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China on July 26, 1945, calling for the unconditional surrender of Japan.

Here is an excerpt of the ultimatum:

"The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people a peacefully inclined and responsible government.

We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.”
1

What is an ultimatum?

1

When was the Potsdam ultimatum given to Japan? When was the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan? Use the internet if you are unsure.

1

How could you use this source as evidence for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan?

President Harry S. Truman’s Press Release Announcing the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and Statement Defending the Use of Atomic Weapons

“…The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet. With this bomb we have now added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. In their present form these bombs are now in production and even more powerful forms are in development… We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan's power to make war… It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth. We have used it against those who attacked without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have abandoned the pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.”
Source C
1

According to Truman, how did the Japanese begin the "war from the air?"

1

What are two additional reasons President Truman says our use of the atomic bomb on Japan was justified?

Source D
The Japanese had demonstrated near-fanatical resistance, fighting to almost the last man on Pacific islands, committing mass suicide and unleashing kamikaze attacks.
1

What is a kamikaze pilot?

1

How many Japanese pilots gave their lives in an effort to destroy American ships during WWII? How could you use this information as evidence to support your argument for using the atomic bomb?

Dropping Atomic Bombs was the only thing that would have persuaded the Japanese government to surrender.

Even the prospect of an American invasion of their homeland had not tempted the Japanese government into surrendering. The odds were heavily stacked against the Japanese defeating any invasion, yet surrendering was unheard of in their culture. Had the Americans landed, then the defenders would have fought to the death and taken as many of the invaders with them as they could.

The dropping of the atomic bombs gave the Japanese government no realistic alternative to surrendering. They had no way of stopping the United States from dropping more atomic bombs on any of their cities. They were not aware that there had only been two bombs available, and rightfully took the decision to surrender instead of risking the destruction of another city.
Source E
1

Why were the Japanese unlikely to surrender without the use of the atomic bomb?

Source F
1

Truman gave this speech prior to dropping the atomic bomb on Japan. Truman warns that if Japan does not surrender, they will suffer the same destruction as which country?

1

How could you use this speech to justify our use of the atomic bomb on Japan?

Colonel Paul Tibbets, Jr., and His Thoughts on the Use of Atomic Weapons on Japan

Colonel Tibbets was the pilot of the Enola Gay, the bomber plane that dropped the world’s first atomic weapon on Hiroshima. In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, Tibbets was asked how he felt about his role in the world-altering events of August 1945:

“I was anxious to do it… I wanted to do everything that I could to subdue Japan. I wanted to kill the bastards. That was the attitude of the United States in those years…I have been convinced that we saved more lives than we took. It would have been morally wrong if we’d have had that weapon and not used it and let a million more people die.”
Source G
1

Why did Colonel Tibbets feel justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Japan?

Dropping the Atomic Bomb made a Third World War highly unlikely.

The atomic bomb and later the more powerful H bomb decreased the risk of a Third World War taking place, as it would certainly bring about the world’s destruction.
Immediate use of the bomb convinced the world of its horror and prevented future use when nuclear stockpiles were far larger, as seen on the chart to the right. The two atomic bombs, which were dropped on Japan, had only a fraction of the power of H bombs, and they destroyed a city each.

The atomic bomb changed the consequences of any potential wars between superpowers. It led to the concept known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) which was that none of the nuclear superpowers, especially Russia and the United States, would fight directly against each other out of fear of nuclear fallout. This reality meant that world superpowers could not risk directly fighting each other and begin a nuclear war that would wipe out humanity within minutes once ballistic missile strikes were launched. The possibility of a nuclear-induced doomsday scenario goes a long way in explaining why the Cold War between the superpowers never led to a Third World War.
Source H
1

Look at the graph of nuclear weapons in 2022 above. How many total weapons does Russia have? How many total weapons does the United States have?

1

How did the use of the atomic bomb help prevent a third world war from occurring?

1

How did the atomic bomb lead to the concept known as MAD? How could you argue that dropping the atomic bomb on Japan actually helped ensure a safer world today?

We will divide our class into two circles --- a smaller, inner circle and a larger, outer circle. The inner circle will be provided with an opportunity to talk while the outer circle listens.

It's important that you have your pieces of evidence clearly laid out, so you can access them easily when you are in the inner circle.

Please look through all of the sources above. Pick THREE statistics, quotes, visuals, graphs...that you think are most compelling for arguing for the use of the atomic bomb in WWII.