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Tough llecisions
President Harry Truman had to make a difficult decision
before using the atomic bomb against Japan in World War ll. He
had to weigh the pros and cons of each argument. Then he had
to decide which option would be best for the United States. Not
everyone agreed with President Truman's decision. Read the
information in the chart below; then explain what decision you
would have made if you had been president.
Option 1: Use the atomic bomb.
Option 2: Don't use the atomic bomb.
It would probably end the war with Japan and
save the lives of hundreds of.thousands of
American soldiers.
Thousands of innocent Japanese civilians
would not be killed.
It would mean the death of thousands of
innocent Japanese civilians. lt would do
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.
extensive damage to the city of Hiroshima.
lf you had been president of the United States, what would you have decided?
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When you make a decision, it is important to consider the pros and cons of your different options. Below
are some choices you make as a student every day. Choose A or B; then fill out the chart to help you
decide what to do. On the back of this page, write what you decided to do and why you think it is the best
decision.
Pick only A or B:
A) Option 1 = Do my homework.
B) Option 1 = Read a favorite book.
Option 2 = Don't do my homework.
Option 2 = Watch a favorite TV show.
Option 2:
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OThe Education Center, Inc. . THE MAILBOF. lntermediate. Agril/Mav
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Note To Teacher: Use with the "Hiroshima" activitV on paqe 23.
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When Harry Truman the American
president heard of the bombing he
said "This is the greatest thing in
history". But even now peopte are stilt
dying of the effects of the Atomic
Bomb. These effects are so awful it is
necessary to ask the question "Why
did they drop the bomb when the war
was so nearly over?"
The Americans had pushed Japan out
of al.t the Land they had occupied in
the Pacific region. In Europe, Hitter
had been defeated. So why did the
Americans drop the bomb?
Below are 4 possible reasons:
The Americans betieved Japan
woutd never surrender. lf the
bomb had not been dropped
thousands of American lives coutd
have been tost in an invasion of
Japan
The Bomb had cost a lot of money
to devetop and the Americans
wanted to use it. The bomb cost
52000 mitlion. lt would have been
difficutt to justify not using after
such as vast financiat investment
The Japanese had been very cruel
to prisoners of War. Some
Americans thought they deserved
to be taught a tesson.
The USA wanted to show how
much stronger it was than the
USSR (Russia) which it did not
trust.
QUESTTONS
Look at the 4 reasons above. Imagine you are President Truman in the
White House. You are listening to your advisers.
o
Write out the reasons in the order you consider most important for
America.
o
Some of these reasons are short term and some are iong term. Write
or L beside each one.
Now imagine you are against the dropping of the bomb.
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By Mrs
Graham
Look at each reason in turn and write down an argument against it,
which you hope will stop the bombing.
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