Was the dropping of atomic bombs justified?

Why did the US decide to drop the Why did the US decide to drop the bomb?bomb?

Pacific warPacific war Millions invested in Millions invested in

developmentdevelopment Growing threat from Growing threat from

USSRUSSR Vengeance for torture & Vengeance for torture &

suicide attackssuicide attacks

What happened when the bomb was What happened when the bomb was dropped?dropped?

6 August 1945 Enola Gay 6 August 1945 Enola Gay dropped atomic bomb on dropped atomic bomb on HiroshimaHiroshima

70,000 immediate deaths70,000 immediate deaths 200,000+ deaths radiation 200,000+ deaths radiation

and and fall outfall out 9 August, Nagasaki9 August, Nagasaki 40,000 40,000

deathsdeaths 14 August Japan surrenders14 August Japan surrenders

What did the bombs look like?What did the bombs look like?‘Little Boy’ Uranium,

Hiroshima

‘Fat Man’, Plutonium, Nagasaki

How powerful were they?How powerful were they? ‘‘Fat Boy’ blast equivalent to 20,000Fat Boy’ blast equivalent to 20,000 tons of tons of

explosives detonated at onceexplosives detonated at once Strong winds from blast destroyed all buildings Strong winds from blast destroyed all buildings

within a 1.5 mile radiuswithin a 1.5 mile radius Heat generated incinerated everything in its pathHeat generated incinerated everything in its path

What was the impact?What was the impact?

As we watch the film clips think As we watch the film clips think about this…about this…

Armed with all of the knowledge Armed with all of the knowledge that President Truman and his that President Truman and his advisors had accumulated: advisors had accumulated: Was Was the dropping of the atomic bomb the dropping of the atomic bomb

justifiedjustified??

TaskTask The Library of Congress is preparing a special The Library of Congress is preparing a special

exhibition of documents and photos relating to the exhibition of documents and photos relating to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nagasaki.

This exhibition will commemorate the 65th This exhibition will commemorate the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on August 6, anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on August 6, 2010. 2010.

The exhibition will seek to answer one of the most The exhibition will seek to answer one of the most controversial questions of the 20th century: controversial questions of the 20th century: was the was the dropping of the atomic bomb justified (right)?dropping of the atomic bomb justified (right)?

Supporters believe that the atomic bomb helped to Supporters believe that the atomic bomb helped to end the war more quickly. end the war more quickly.

They argue that without the atomic bomb, the They argue that without the atomic bomb, the United States would have had to invade the home United States would have had to invade the home islands of Japan, resulting in hundreds of thousands islands of Japan, resulting in hundreds of thousands of additional American and Japanese casualties of additional American and Japanese casualties (people killed or injured). (people killed or injured).

Opponents argue that Japan would have surrendered Opponents argue that Japan would have surrendered without the use of an atomic bomb on a civilian without the use of an atomic bomb on a civilian target. target.

They say that Japan was a beaten nation in August of They say that Japan was a beaten nation in August of 1945 and was only looking for a way to surrender 1945 and was only looking for a way to surrender while preserving the role of their emperor.while preserving the role of their emperor.

You Decide!You Decide! The Librarian of Congress has asked you, a The Librarian of Congress has asked you, a

distinguished scholar, to settle this question. distinguished scholar, to settle this question. You will join one of four teams. You will join one of four teams. Each team will research the decision to drop Each team will research the decision to drop

the bomb from a different perspective. the bomb from a different perspective.

These are the four perspectives:These are the four perspectives:

1) 1) A scientist involved with the Manhattan Project

2) 2) A senior advisor to President Truman 3) 3) A senior U.S. military leader4) A Japanese survivor of the bombing4) A Japanese survivor of the bombing

Manhattan Project Scientific Perspectives

The Franck Report, June 11, 1945http://www.dannen.com/decision/franck.html

Scientific Panel, June 16, 1945http://www.dannen.com/decision/scipanel.html

Szilard Petition, Final Version, July 17, 1945http://www.dannen.com/decision/45-07-17.html

J. Robert Oppenheimerhttp://www.doug-long.com/oppie.htm

Advisors to President TrumanSecretary of War Henry Stimson’s Diaries

http://www.doug-long.com/Secretary of State James F. Brynes

http://www.doug-long.com/byrnes.htmPresident Truman’s Diary

http://www.doug-long.com/Bard Memorandum

http://www.doug-long.com/bard.htmJohn J. McCloy

http://www.doug-long.com/mccloy.htm

Military AdvisorsGeneral George C. Marshall

http://www.doug-long.com/stimson4.htmAdmiral William Leahy

http://www.doug-long.com/leahy.htm

Japanese Leaders and Survivors Resources

Japanese Minister of War Korechika Anamihttp://www.doug-long.com/anami.htm

A-Bomb World War II Museumhttp://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/index.html

Scientific Data of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Disasterhttp://www-sdc.med.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/n50/index.html

“My Experience of the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing and An Outline of the Damages Caused by the Explosion,” by Dr. Raisuke Shirabe

http://www-sdc.med.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/n50/shirabe/contents-E.html

Each group will research the essential question by Each group will research the essential question by reading the informational student handout and reading the informational student handout and analyzing the primary sources.analyzing the primary sources.

After researching the information, the group will After researching the information, the group will discuss the essential question within their group and discuss the essential question within their group and come to a group consensus on the answer to their come to a group consensus on the answer to their question from the point of view of a diplomat, question from the point of view of a diplomat, scientist, Japanese survivor, or military leader. scientist, Japanese survivor, or military leader.

Each group will to create a short position paper Each group will to create a short position paper answering the question, using the graphic organizer.answering the question, using the graphic organizer.

The class will take notes using The class will take notes using http://bubbl.us/edit.php a mind mapping and brainstorming application within a mind mapping and brainstorming application within the web browser.the web browser.

After every group has presented, the students will write After every group has presented, the students will write a short individual report answering the question.a short individual report answering the question.

The class will vote on whether the decision to drop the The class will vote on whether the decision to drop the bomb was justified.bomb was justified.