TheABombDecision

Background

On August 6, 1945, a lone American bomber flew high over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
The plane dropped a single bomb, nicknamed Little Boy. By the end of the day, more
than 160 000 people were dead or dying. The bomb drifted over the city hanging from a
small parachute. It exploded with a white flash. Shock waves mowed down buildings.
Fireballs burned through the streets. Pieces of the city tore through the air. Finally, a huge
mushroom-shaped cloud billowed over the city. People who looked up at the sound of the
explosion had their eyes melt from the heat of the blast. Skin turned black and dripped
from bones. Those who died at once were lucky. Many more suffered a slow and painful
death from radiation poisoning. Decades later, deformed babies were born to the
survivors of Hiroshima. Three days later, the same havoc was repeated at Nagasaki. 80
000 people were cremated in a nuclear inferno.

The Case

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. By
1945 a full-scale invasion of Japan had been planned by the Americans. Previous
experience had shown the American leaders that they could expect a million or more
casualties on each side.

There was an alternative to the invasion. The atomic bomb had recently been developed
in the United States. Scientists assured leaders it could destroy thousands far faster than
any conventional weapons.

Such a weapon might achieve peace through terror. Faced with such a weapon, it was
reasonable to expect the Japanese to surrender. You are the foreign policy maker.

In favour of dropping the bomb: you know that it will probably end the war and less
American lives will be lost. The United States should be the first to use this weapon as
show of force. Your scientists tell you other nations will soon develop a similar weapon.

Suppose you decide not to use it and invade Japan instead. Many lives will be lost and you
will be severely criticized at home when it is learned that you had this weapon and didnt
use it. Perhaps you may even be removed from office for not using the bomb.

Are there alternatives to using the bomb or invading Japan? The demands for an
unconditional surrender could be altered. You could warn the Japanese that you have
such a weapon. You might show the world its destructive power by dropping it on a
deserted island.

You Make the Decision

Should the war be shortened by dropping the bomb? Or should American lives be
sacrificed in a conventional invasion, freeing the allies of accusations of inhumanity? You
must decide. Develop a
Decision-Making Model
to consider your alternatives.

In August 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped in Japan. In Hiroshima alone, 160 000
people were killed or wounded. The war in Japan was brought to an abrupt halt
.

Decision Making Model

Problem

Goal(s)

Alternatives

Pros (+) & Cons (-)

(+)

(-)

(+)

(-)

(+)

(-)

(+)

(-)

Decisions(s)

Reason(s)

A) Discuss the impact of the bomb on human life

1. What was the total number of civilians killed by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki
bombs?

2. How does this compare to the total number of British and German civilians
killed?

3. What was the total number of Japanese civilians killed (with the A-bomb and
the Fire Raid)?

4. How does this compare to the total number of all other civilians?

Nagasaki (A-Bomb) 1945)

British Civilians (German Attacks) 1939-1945)
Hiroshima (A-Bomb) 1945
Tokyo (US Fire Raid) March 1945
Dresdon (G.B Fire Raid)

36,000
62,000
70000
83000
100,000

B) Discussion Questions:

Below is a list of possible reasons for dropping the bomb. Write a comment about each of
these statements.
The Americans believed Japan would never surrender. If the bomb had not been
dropped thousands of American lives could have been lost in an invasion of Japan.

The Bomb had cost a lot of money to develop and the Americans wanted to use it.
The bomb cost $2 billion. It would have been difficult to justify not using it after
such a vast financial investment.

The Japanese had been very cruel to prisoners of war. Some Americans thought
they deserved to be taught a lesson.

It was used to show the USAs military superiority to the USSR.