Use of the Atomic Bomb Against Japan was Justified Essay Sample

Truman and his advisors did not want to invade Japan; they tried to find every alternative. They thought about letting the Soviets end the war themselves, making America look weak. Truman thought about continuing the bombings and using a harsh blockade to stop the transportation of goods and ammunition. The possibility of invading Japan quickly disappeared as they knew it would cost many American lives. Dr. Oppenhigmer and Truman’s advisors quickly made an idea. An atomic bomb would quickly end the war with the cost of zero American lives. The Manhattan Project started in 1942. Truman’s advisors and scientists worked hard to build the Bomb. They completed building the Bomb in 1945. Once they finished it, they gave Japan chances to surrender, but they did not. On August 6th, the Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, causing 64,000 casualties. Due to weather, they dropped the second Bomb early on Nagasaki on August 9th, causing more significant damage. Admiral Leahy thought using the Bomb was wrong, as Japan was weak and ready to surrender. Dwight Eisenhower was also against it; he said that Japan was ready to surrender, and he hated that America was the first country to use the Bomb. Both Leahy and Eisenhower make agreeable points, but using the Bomb was justified, as it helped America end the war as fast as possible with minimal American lives lost and to demonstrate our strength and military power.   

Using the Atomic Bomb helped end the war with Japan quickly and without the cost of American lives. Truman desperately wanted to end the war with Japan as he stated that “It was a commitment to end the war with Japan as quickly as possible” (Walker, 18). Truman quickly crossed the invasion off his options, so he kept looking. After Truman and his advisors decided to let the Soviet Union end the war themselves was a bad idea, they locked in on the Atomic Bomb. Truman stated that “he remained concerned with ending the war as soon as possible, and the bomb was the most likely and least risky means to accomplish his objective” (Walker, 59). The other reason for using the Bomb, besides making it quick, was not to use American lives.

Truman stated that the primary war objective was to win a complete victory while keeping war casualties minimum (47, Walker). Truman was very content about losing American lives in war. In the platoon battle in WW1, Truman cried after one of the soldiers died. At this point, Using the Bomb appeared as the easy answer to force surrender. For that reason, the use of the Bomb was an easy and apparent military decision for Truman (Walker, 71). Even if it were controversial, Truman knew using the Bomb would be his best option to end the war with minor American casualties.

Using the Atomic Bomb on Japan to force them to surrender would demonstrate America’s strength and military power. Not invading Japan was a given, but letting the Soviet Union end the war was worse. J. Samuel Walker stated that “American planners viewed the prospect of Soviet entry as helpful in shortening the war but not essential for winning it or as a subsite to invasion” (Walker, 40). It would be worse than an invasion because it would make America look militarily weak. Letting the Soviet Union end the war themselves was checked off their options list for ending the war with Japan. After using the Bomb, Stalin himself was scared that the Soviet Union would be next. Stalin stated that “After receiving the news about Hiroshima, he became intensely concerned that the bomb would deprive him of his objectives in Asia” (Walker, 80). After using the Bomb, Truman himself was scared of his creation, defining it as the “scariest weapon made by man-kind” (Walker, 97). It was a fact that using the Atomic Bomb affected our relations with the Soviet Union in a positive way as the Interim Committee weighed the impact of the Atomic Bomb on U.S-Soviet relations highly (17, Walker). The Bomb made Stalin a little shaky, afraid it would be used on them. Truman knew using the Bomb would make America look powerful and militarily strong.

Although the Bomb was mainly justified, Admiral Leahy and Eisenhower still made good points. Before the bombing, Japan was weak and possibly ready to surrender. Truman said Japan was “nearing collapse” (Walker, 67). Truman knew that they were nearing collapse but still decided to drop the Bomb on Japan. While many may view that as wrong and monstrous, it was not. Even though Japan was nearing collapse and possibly ready to surrender, they did not surrender. Truman gave them many opportunities to surrender, and Japan denied them. The Atomic Bomb achieved all the goals Truman wanted in the war against Japan (Walker, 73). The Atomic Bomb was the best decision America had. Japan had its chances and did not take them, and this is why it is Justified that Truman dropped the Atomic Bomb.

The Atomic Bomb was the apparent answer to end the war with Japan. Truman threw away the idea of invading Japan after realizing the number of American casualties that would result from it. The Atomic Bomb was the front runner for ending the war with Japan, starting the Manhattan Project. Truman gave Japan many chances to surrender, but they denied his offers. Truman wanted to use the Atomic Bomb to end the war quickly with minor American casualties. This would be a win-win situation for America, as the Bomb would demonstrate America’s power. Truman also decided that letting the Soviet Union end the war themselves would be worse than invading Japan, making America look weak. This left the Atomic Bomb as the apparent answer to end the war with Japan. Truman decided to use the Atomic Bomb to end the war quickly with Japan with slight American casualties, and it promoted that America was militarily strong.