Question

Why did president truman decide to drop the atomic bombs on japan?

Answer 1

Truman’s Choices

(My answer)

What other choices did Truman struggle with in the summer of 1945?

Truman had to decide, and he had to consider the consequences according to his decision. He did not take the matter of whether to use the bomb lightly, he made his sense of responsibility clear, and explained how he would make his decision. Truman struggled to decide whether it was best to invade Japan properly, or to bomb it and blockade. Facts complicated Truman's decision. Truman had consulted with his advisors, and had spoken with British Prime Minister Churchill. At the Potsdam Conference, the Allies gave Japan another chance to consider whether they should surrender. If Japan turned down the offer, the consequences would be out of control, and a warning of massive destruction would be announced.

Which reasons did you include in your answer? Check all of the boxes that apply. (MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE)

He could authorize an invasion of Japan.

He could blockade Japan and continue bombing.

He could demonstrate the bomb in some remote area.

He could drop the bomb on a Japanese city.

Answer 2

While the United States began conventional bombing of Japan as early as 1942, the mission did not begin in earnest until mid-1944. Between April 1944 and August, 1945, an estimated 333,000 Japanese people were killed and 473,000 more wounded in air raids. A single firebombing attack on Tokyo in March 1945 killed more than 80,000 people. Truman later remarked, “Despite their heavy losses at Okinawa and the firebombing of Tokyo, the Japanese refused to surrender. The saturation bombing of Japan took much fiercer tolls and wrought far and away more havoc than the atomic bomb. Far and away. The firebombing of Tokyo was one of the most terrible things that ever happened, and they didn't surrender after that although Tokyo was almost completely destroyed.”

In August 1945, it was clear that conventional bombing was not effective.