Transcript Dropping the Atomic Bomb

President Truman’s Decision:
Dropping the Atomic Bomb
What factors and questions do democracies have to
consider during war?
QUESTION.
Background Information
“When a democratic society goes to war, the decisions made and actions taken are not
just the responsibility of those in authority; they are the collective responsibility of the
people.” – Choices: Values and Ethics in Warfare
Do the ends always justify the means?
Once war has begun, few Americans would deny that bringing the conflict to a speedy
and victorious conclusion is a justifiable end goal.
The moral difficulty comes in deciding which military actions, or means, should be
employed to attain a worthy end. Where does a democracy draw the line in the use of
violence? How does the end being pursued determine which means are justifiable?
Just War and Total War
What is “total war”?
The Roman Empire in the Punic Wars
Rome defeated Carthage twice stripping
them of their colonies and navy, forcing them
to pay large sums of gold and silver to Rome,
and “salted the earth” where Carthage stood.
“Carthaginian peace”
When is a war just?
In 989, the Church passed the “Peace of God”
movement protecting those not involved in
war from its effects.
“A Christian who slays another Christian
sheds the blood of Christ”
War could be fought to “resist attack,
restore peace, punish evil-doers, avenge
injuries, prevent injustice, or promote the
interests of the church.”
Return to Total War
The Napoleonic Wars return a sense of
patriotism and mass mobilization to war.
The First Modern War & Total War?
The American Civil War.
Advancements in artillery and rifles saw up
to 50,000 killed/wounded in a single
battle.
Sherman’s March to the Sea saw Georgia
burned totally and intentionally.
First modern war to intentionally
attack civilians?
World War I
Return to Total War
The Hague Convention on Land Warfare in 1907:
Article 25 prohibited “the attack or bombardment, by whatever means, of
towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings which are undefended.”
Article 27 declared that “in sieges and bombardments all necessary steps must
be taken to spare, as far as possible, buildings dedicated to religions, art,
science, or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, and places
where the sick and wounded are collected.”
Did this help in WWI?
No.
At least five million civilians perished from disease, starvation, or attack.
In May 1917, Germany intentionally attacked civilians killing 95.
Aerial Warfare in World War II
The first city to be intentionally bombed in the West was Rotterdam in the
Netherlands. In May 1940, fifty German bombers dropped 94 tons of explosives
on Rotterdam’s center, killing one thousand civilians.
The German bombings of London and Great Britain were solely to destroy
“British will to resist rather than Britain’s military might.”
Bombing Raids During World War II
Lubeck, Germany (3.42): First bombing to exceed 10,000 killed or wounded
Cologne, Germany (5.42): 1,000+ bombs used on a single target city. Over
45,000+ listed as “bombed out”.
Hamburg, Germany (7.43): Carpet bombing saw a firestorm erupt on day three
of the bombings. Tempertures exceeded 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Asphalt
melted. 45,000+ dead.
Tokyo, Japan (1942 to 1945): 125,000 casualties and 100,000 deaths
firebombing a “paper city”
Cologne, Germany
Tokyo, Japan
Should the United States have dropped of the atomic
bomb?
QUESTION.
Further Information
In April 1945, Japanese leaders recognized defeat was inevitable.
A new government took office with the purpose of ending the war. The
Japanese, with the Germans out of the war and Japanese codes deciphered,
were seeking to end the war on favorable terms.
Wartime censorship, however, did not allow newspapers to publish this story.
To what extent is unconditional surrender the only
acceptable option when discussing the surrender of the
Axis Powers?
QUESTION.
Further Information
Prior to leaving for Yalta in February of 1945, President Roosevelt received five
separate surrender options from General MacArthur in regards to Japan:
1. Complete surrender in all territories
2. Occupation of Japan by American forces under American direction
3. Relinquishment of all taken territory and POWS
4. Regulation of all Japanese territory
5. Surrender of designated war criminals
The Japanese were determined to surrender, but on a single certain condition:
Emperor Hirohito must not be harmed.
Until 8/1945, most Japanese citizens had not even heard his voice.
He must not be executed as a war criminal.
Are civilians working in a munitions factory during a time of
war justifiably targets for enemy bombings?
QUESTION.
Further Information
The atomic bomb was not the reason for Japanese surrender. It was only the
icing on the cake.
The fire bombings did more collective damage and it was these bombings and
the realization that the United States would wipe Japan off the face of the map
through these fire bombings that sealed the desire to surrender.
To what extent should the United States be condemned for
using a weapon that could kill so many so quickly?
QUESTION.
Further Information
The modern day price to finance the Manhattan Project?
$252,740,293,376 in 2013.
Which reason do you believe is the best to justify President
Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb and why?
QUESTION.
Below is an excerpt from the Potsdam Declaration held in the summer
of 1945:
“We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the
unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide
proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The
alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction. “
Is this a fair warning to give the Japanese given the destructive power
of the Atomic Bomb?
QUESTION.
Do you believe that the future use of weapons of mass
destruction should fall on the President, Congress, or the
military?
QUESTION.
In hindsight, can we judge President Truman for his decision
to use the atomic bomb on Japan?
QUESTION.