Question

While World War II ended in Europe with the suicide of Hitler and the defeat of German troops, the war in the Pacific promised to be a long drawn out affair. Harry Truman became President in April of 1945 upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Truman, who had no idea what an atomic weapon was decided to use them to end the war in the Pacific in August, 1945. While the United States forces were advancing on Japan, Truman had to weigh the cost of an invasion of Japan versus the use of the new weapons.   The military estimated that over a million men would be killed or wounded in an invasion of the Japanese homelands and would take several years.  

The use of atomic weapons to end World War II is still controversial today.  

Do you think President Truman was right in using Fat Man and Little Boy to end the war or should the use of atomic weapons have been stopped before their use to prevent the arms race that led to the Cold War?

Answer 1

After the death of President Roosevelt, now its the duty of President Truman to end the war. But the war depicts that the Japanese would prefer to die rather surrendering themselves. Women and children were also taught to use weapons.

So, when Truman became president, he came to know about the Manhattan Project whose mission was to develop the atomic bomb. When the atomic bomb got ready, Truman demanded the unconditional surrender of the Japanese government.

But, Truman got no reply and he sent the Little boy, an atomic bomb towards the route of japan dropping the bomb.

After this, there was public poll held in October 1945 to get the opinions regarding using of atomic bomb. 70 percent of the poll was against the use of the atomic bomb.

So, according to me, the use of the atomic bomb was not the right decision to end the war. Because the impact of the atomic bomb is still prevailing in that area. It caused massive destruction, took many lives. People died of radiation poisoning. It converts the green area into a barren land for decades. It was better to use the arms race to prevent the death of innocent people.