McKenna: World History
Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb
Short Essay Assignment
Name: _________________________________________ Total Points: 30 points
Vice-President Harry S. Truman became president of the United States after President
Franklin D. Roosevelt died in April, 1945. Shortly after becoming president, Truman was
faced with one of the most difficult decisions of his life: whether or not he should use the
newly invented atomic bomb against Japan in an effort to save American lives and end
World War II.
Scientists told President Truman that approximately 20,000 Japanese would die and many
homes and factories would be destroyed if he used the atomic bomb. In reality the first
atomic bomb killed 80,000 - 100,000 people and destroyed five square miles in
Hiroshima. Three days later, the second atomic bomb killed 40,000 people in Nagasaki.
Thousand more died later as a result of injuries and from exposure to radiation.
Was the atomic bomb a necessary evil? Use the chart below to analyze the pros and cons.
Then, in a short essay (3 paragraphs), explain what you would have decided and why.
Specifically, answer this question: If you had been the President of the United States
during WWII, what would you have decided and why?
Pros
Cons
Option 1: Use the atomic bomb
It would probably end the war
with Japan and save the lives of
hundreds of thousands of
American soldiers.
It would mean the death of
thousands of innocent civilians.
It would do extensive damage to
the city of Hiroshima.
Option 2: Don’t use the atomic bomb
Thousands of innocent Japanese civilians
would not be killed.
The American military would have to
invade Japan. About 500,000 American
soldiers would probably die in this attack.
Even more Japanese civilians and soldiers
would also die.
McKenna: World History
BY BILL DIETRICH
Seattle Times staff reporter
†Historians are still divided over whether it was necessary to drop the atomic bomb on
Japan to end World War II. Here is a summary of arguments on both sides:
Why the bomb was needed or justified:
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The Japanese had demonstrated near-fanatical resistance, fighting to almost the last
man on Pacific islands, committing mass suicide on Saipan and unleashing kamikaze
attacks at Okinawa. Fire bombing had killed 100,000 in Tokyo with no discernible
political effect. Only the atomic bomb could jolt Japan's leadership to surrender.
With only two bombs ready (and a third on the way by late August 1945) it was too
risky to "waste" one in a demonstration over an unpopulated area.
An invasion of Japan would have caused casualties on both sides that could easily
have exceeded the toll at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The two targeted cities would have been firebombed anyway.
Immediate use of the bomb convinced the world of its horror and prevented future use
when nuclear stockpiles were far larger.
The bomb's use impressed the Soviet Union and halted the war quickly enough that
the USSR did not demand joint occupation of Japan.
Why the bomb was not needed, or unjustified:
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Japan was ready to call it quits anyway. More than 60 of its cities had been destroyed
by conventional bombing, the home islands were being blockaded by the American
Navy, and the Soviet Union entered the war by attacking Japanese troops in
Manchuria.
American refusal to modify its "unconditional surrender" demand to allow the
Japanese to keep their emperor needlessly prolonged Japan's resistance.
A demonstration explosion over Tokyo harbor would have convinced Japan's leaders
to quit without killing many people.
Even if Hiroshima was necessary, the U.S. did not give enough time for word to filter
out of its devastation before bombing Nagasaki.
The bomb was used partly to justify the $2 billion spent on its development.
The two cities were of limited military value. Civilians outnumbered troops in
Hiroshima five or six to one.
Japanese lives were sacrificed simply for power politics between the U.S. and the
Soviet Union.
Conventional firebombing would have caused as much significant damage without
making the U.S. the first nation to use nuclear weapons.
McKenna: World History
GRADING RUBRIC: Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb Short Essay
Grading
Criteria
Excellent
(8-10 points)
Fully answers the
Content
question and
provides
substantial
supporting
details for
decision
Organization Essay is very
clearly organized
into paragraphs;
information
flows in a logical
sequence;
transition words
are used
effectively;
introduction and
conclusion are
strong
Flawless
Mechanics
spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar
Acceptable
Minimal
Unacceptable
(5-7 points)
Answers
questions and
provides some
supporting
details for
decision
(2-4 points)
Answers question
with little to no
supporting details
for decision
(0-1 points)
Does not answer
question and does
not provide
supporting details
Essay is
generally
organized into
paragraphs;
appropriate
transition
words are used;
appropriate
introduction
and conclusion
are provided
Organization of
essay is often
unclear; transition
words are not
appropriately
used; introduction
and/or conclusion
is minimal or
inappropriate
Organization of
essay is mostly
unclear; transition
words are not
used; introduction
or conclusion is
missing
Some minor
spelling,
punctuation, or
grammar
mistakes that
do not affect
the reader’s
ability to
understand the
author’s
purpose
Careless spelling,
punctuation, or
grammar mistakes
that somewhat
affect the reader’s
ability to
understand the
author’s purpose
Significant
spelling,
punctuation, or
grammar mistakes
that seriously
affect the reader’s
ability to
understand the
author’s purpose
______________ / 30 total points
McKenna: World History
OUTLINE
*This is just a sample outline. You can use this template or create your own outline. I
highly recommend you jotting down some notes before you begin writing your essay.
*Don’t forget to see me for extra help if you are having trouble. You can find me in
Trailer 11 during 3rd, 6th, and 7th periods or in A373 during 4th and 5th periods. If you
would like to work after school, please see me to schedule a time/place.
Paragraph #1: Introduction
The atomic bomb is (in your own words, describe what it is, what it could be used
for, why it is dangerous, etc.)________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
In 1945, United States President, Harry S. Truman, had to decide whether to use the
newly created atomic bombs against Japan in an effort to end World War II. Had I been
the President of the United States at that time, I would have decided _________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
because _________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(this should simply be a statement of why you would make that decision).
Paragraph #2: Body (Supporting Details/Evidence)
This paragraph should repeat WHAT decision you would make and WHY, providing
supporting evidence to make your argument. Explain why your decision would be the
best alternative for ending World War II. Be sure to use complete sentences and support
your decision with evidence from class discussions, the class textbook, and the articles.
Paragraph #3: Conclusion
Conclude your essay with summary remarks.