Dropping of the Atomic DBQ
Name
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: With the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered signaling the end of WWII. Historians,
however, are still debating whether the dropping of the atomic bomb was necessary to end the
war quickly.
TASK: In a well-written essay, you must:
 Decide whether or not the United States was justified in dropping the atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 Give at least three (3) historically accurate facts to defend your position.
HELPFUL HINTS:
 Use at least 3 documents in your essay. This will require you to utilize a document that
does not help your argument. You must be able to take a document and spin it to explain
how it actually is incorrect in your opinion.
 When selecting documents, be sure that you do not simply list them, but accurately
analyze them (this is what separates a “4” paper from a “5” paper).
 Your outside knowledge on this subject is extensive. Think of everything that we have
learned over the past 3 weeks and use it to your advantage. When taking a stand, be sure
to use as much evidence as possible to explain your point.
 Stick to your point. When writing an argumentative DBQ paper, be sure to avoid telling
both sides of the argument. A Defense lawyer does not explain the Prosecution’s side she
simply makes her client look innocent.
 Cite the documents after the sentence and try to quote at least one document in your
paper.
 If you believe that the United States was not justified in dropping the atomic bomb, you
should offer what you believe was the best alternative. Choosing nothing is not a choice.
DOCUMENT #1: Rape of Nanking
In 1936 and 1937 the Japanese army entered the city of Nanking, what happened there over six
weeks is known as The Rape of Nanking.
1.
How might the photograph influence the American president into believing that the
atomic attacks on Japanese civilians were justified?
The Japanese were brutally
killing unarmed Americans that were captured.
DOCUMENT #2: League of Nations International Law
Protection of Civilian Populations Against Bombing From the Air in
Case of War, League of Nations, September 30, 1938
PROTECTION OF CIVILIAN POPULATIONS AGAINST BOMBING FROM THE AIR IN CASE OF
WAR
Unanimous resolution of the League of Nations Assembly,
September 30, 1938.
The Assembly,
Considering that on numerous occasions public opinion has expressed through the most authoritative channels
its horror of the bombing of civilian populations;
Considering that this practice, for which there is no military necessity and which, as experience shows, only
causes needless suffering, is condemned under the recognised principles of international law;…
I. Recognizes the following principles as a necessary basis for any subsequent regulations:
1) The intentional bombing of civilian populations is illegal;
2) Objectives aimed at from the air must be legitimate military objectives and must be identifiable;
3) Any attack on legitimate military objectives must be carried out in such a way that civilian populations in the
neighbourhood are not bombed through negligence;
1.
What is the date of this document?
September 30, 1938
2.
What international organization passed this law?
3.
Identify one way the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were illegal according to this
law.
They were innocent civilians that had no part in the war.
League of Nations
DOCUMENT #3: Japanese Kamikaze Pilots
As the war progressed and it became obvious that American technology was superior to
Japan’s, the Japanese began utilizing kamikaze pilots to attack Allied ships in the Pacific to
balance the power. The Japanese pilots became “guided” missiles taking out American ships.
1.
How might the Japanese use of Kamikaze pilots influence Harry Truman to drop the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
They were taking out innocent lives
on ships. The Japanese believed if their plane was going down that they should do as
much destruction to enemies as possible.
DOCUMENT #4: Letter of Scientists opposed to nuclear weapon in war
EXCERPTS OF THE LETTER:
To the President of the United States:
We, the undersigned scientific personnel…believe that the worldwide political and social
consequences of the power of the weapon being developed…(require the United States to have
that power to be) made known by a demonstration to the peoples of the world…Therefore we
recommend that before this weapon be used without restriction…its powers should
be…demonstrated, and the Japanese nation should be given the opportunity to consider the
consequences of further refusal to surrender.
1.
According to this letter, why are these scientists opposed to the dropping of the atomic
bomb on Japanese cities? They know that the effects of the bomb will be
completely devastating, so they recommend giving Japan an opportunity to surrender.
DOCUMENT #5: Invasion of JapanThe following are the estimates of casualties, made by US military personnel, in the
invasion of Japan.
Approximately 500,000 Purple Heart medals (awarded to those wounded or killed while serving
with the US military) were manufactured in anticipation of the invasion. However, nobody
knows for sure how many Allied or Japanese casualties an invasion would have resulted in.
There have been many estimates over the years (some of the estimates below do not include
losses at sea).
Estimate
US/Allied Casualties
Japanese Casualties
Olympic Wounded: 347,000
Olympic Dead/Missing: 109,000
Coronet Wounded: 744,000
Coronet Dead/Missing: 158,000
TOTAL: 1,200,000
N/A
First 30 Days: 49,000
N/A
General MacArthur's Staff
(June 1945)
First 120 Days: 125,000
N/A
General MacArthur's Staff
(Revised Estimate)
First 120 Days: 105,000
N/A
70,000
?
268,000
?
31,000 to 41,000
?
Wounded: 1,300,000 to 3,200,000
Dead: 400,000 to 800,000
Total: 1,700,000 to 4,000,000
Dead: 5,000,000 to 10,000,000
Kyle Palmer
Dead: 500,000 to 1,000,000
?
Harry S. Truman
Dead: 500,000 to 1,000,000
?
Joint Chiefs of Staff
(April 1945)
Admiral Nimitz's Staff
(May 1945)
General Marshall
Admiral Leahy
Admiral King
William Shockley
1.
How many casualties did Harry S Truman believe would occur in an invasion of
Japan?
500,000 to 1,000,000
2.
How would this influence his decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japanese cities?
He could create hundreds of thousands of casualties with only a couple bombs.
DOCUMENT #6: Effects of Atomic Attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The following are visuals and a graph of the after-effects of the attacks.
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
1. What was the Pre-raid Population of Hiroshima?
255,000
2. What was the Total Casualties number of Hiroshima?
135,000