President Truman’s Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb Essay

Webster’s dictionary defines hindsight as â€Å"the ability to understand, after something has happened, what should have been done or what caused the event†. It is a fair assumption that most people understand the old adage â€Å"hindsight is always 20/20†; alluding to the fact that, in our everyday lives, we as humans make decisions based on what we know, what seems right and occasionally what makes our lives easier. The average person does not have the mental capability to consider every possible outcome that a choice will have on his entire life, all within the thought process that leads him to reach a conclusion, however long and detailed that process may be. If we add massive amounts of pressure, contradictory advisement, the lives of†¦show more content†¦While this is true, it becomes apparent that every option had its flaws and none seemed as immediate of a solution as dropping single highly destructive bombs on what Stimson (the secretary of wa r) named as â€Å"cities in Japan devoted exclusively to production† (p.287). The first alternative mentioned in the RTAP (page 273) was â€Å"continue and intensify the bombing and naval blockade of Japan†. The second option mentioned on the same page was to â€Å"wait for the Soviet Union to enter the war with Japan by attacking Manchuria† and the third option mentioned was to â€Å"allow the Japanese to retain their emperor with his power reduced to the status of a constitutional monarch†. Each option was unique in its requirements of effect, strategic planning, and man power. However, they all shared the distinct quality of baring absolutely no guarantee of Japanese surrender. The first option, invasion of Japan, was debated the heaviest. Truman, and several of his advisors, sighted the huge estimates of US casualties as the main reason for his hesitancy to proceed with bombing, blockades and ground attacks. In the excerpt of Prompt and Utter Destruct ion: Truman and the Use of the Atomic Bomb against Japan, J. Samuel Walker argues that â€Å"even without the use of the atomic bombs, the war would probably have ended before the American invasion of Kyushu became necessary† (p. 277). He predicted that the destruction,Show MoreRelatedTruman and Atomic Bombs649 Words   |  3 Pagestake a side and then write an editorial on Harry S Truman’s decision to order the dropping of the atom bomb. HARRY S TRUMAN amp; THE DECISION TO ORDER THE DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB Boom! Boom! Seventy thousands Japanese citizens were perished instantly after the first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Japanese still refused to surrender to Allied forces. On August 9, 1945, with the dropping of the second atomic bomb in Nagasaki, where eighty thousands people were vaporizedRead MoreEssay Pres, Truman Atomic Bomb Decision1421 Words   |  6 PagesPresident Trumans Decision to drop the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki During World War II the war in Europe ended after the unconditional German surrender at General Eisenhowers Headquarters in Reims, France, May 7, 1945. After the unconditional German surrender in Europe the war shifted to Asia and the Pacific. As the war continued against Japan the Allied forces captured islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinaawa close to Japan brought the Japanese homeland within range of naval and airRead MoreThe Atomic Bombs910 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the 20th century, specifically the year 1945, the United States of America had two atomic bombs that the commander and chief, and president at the time, Harry Truman, knew about. 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Both caused enormous casualties and physical destruction.† (Maddox 1). These disastrous events have weighted upon the American conscience ever since that day in history. Even though there are some people that disagree with the dropping of the atomic bombRead MoreThe Atomic Bombs On Hiroshima And Nagasaki982 Words   |  4 PagesUpon reviewing Ronald Takai’s Hiroshima, it only makes me wonder what was going through the mind of President Harry Truman when he gave the â€Å"green light† to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It has been more than 70 years since that happened and the conclusion of World War II, and yet the legacy remains in our modern day history books and class lectures. But was deploying the atomic bombs on Japan really necessary? What was Truman thinking? And did the end really justify the means? TrulyRead MorePresident Truman On Domestic Policy845 Words   |  4 PagesPrior to watching the film series on President Truman I knew primarily that he had succeeded FDR, had made the decision to drop the Atomic bombs, and the iconic photo of the headline Dewey beats Truman. During his time as president, President Truman was roundly criticize by the American Public. Not only did he have the misfortune of assuming office from FDR one of the most popular American presidents but he also had to deal with the rebuilding of Europe, Tensions with the Soviet Union and a postRead More The Decision To Drop The Atomic Bomb Essay897 Words   |  4 PagesPresident Trumans decision to drop the atomic bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the direct cause for the end of World War II in the Pacific. The United States felt it was necessary to drop the atomic bombs on these two cities or it would suffer more casualties. 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