World War II Essay
Total: 20 points
Topic: Evaluate the United States’ decision to use the atomic bomb to end the war with Japan
during World War II.
I.
Introduction: (3 pts)
a. Include some facts about the position of the war in the Pacific between the U.S.
and Japan, the nuclear development progress of the U.S., etc.
b. CLEARLY state your claim
II.
Supporting Paragraphs: Include at least TWO (2) paragraphs with evidence and
reasoning from the data included AND class information. You must use the data
provided (cite the document used). (10 pts)
III.
Counterargument & Refutation: “Some people would say ___________because
_________________. (counterargument) They are wrong because
__________________. (refutation)” (5 pts)
IV.
Conclusion: Summarize thoughts and restate your claim (2 pts)
Document A
TABLE A: Estimates of Casualties
Hiroshima
Pre-raid population
Nagasaki
255,000
195,000
Dead
66,000
39,000
Injured
69,000
25,000
135,000
64,000
Total Casualties
Document B
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.
BY BILL DIETRICH
Seattle Times staff reporter
Document C
“The Decision to Use the Bomb” (February 1947)
By Henry Lewis Stimson (Secretary of War 1940-1945)
… The possible atomic weapon was considered to be a new and tremendously powerful explosive, as legitimate as any other
of the deadly explosive weapons of modern war. The entire purpose was the production of a military weapon; on no other
ground could the wartime expenditure of so much time and money have been justified. …
On July 28 the Premier of Japan, Suzuki, rejected the Potsdam ultimatum by announcing that it was “unworthy of public
notice.” In the face of this rejection we could only proceed to demonstrate that the ultimatum had meant exactly what it said
…
… Had the war continued until the projected invasion on November 1, additional fire-raids of B‑20’s would have been more
destructive of life and property than the very limited number of atomic raids which we could have executed in the same
period. But the atomic bomb was more than a weapon of terrible destruction; it was a psychological weapon. …
The bomb thus served exactly the purpose we intended. The peace party was able to take the path of surrender, and the
whole weight of the Emperor’s prestige was exerted in favor of peace. When the Emperor ordered surrender, and the small
but dangerous group of fanatics who opposed him were brought under control, the Japanese became so subdued that the
great undertaking of occupation and disarmament was completed with unprecedented ease.
Document D