Final answer:
President Truman used the atom bomb against Japan for three main reasons, including avoiding a military invasion, responding to Pearl Harbor, and influencing the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Truman used the atom bomb against Japan for three reasons:
- He believed the use of the bomb would make a military invasion of Japan unnecessary. By dropping the bomb, Truman hoped to force Japan to surrender without further military action, therefore saving American lives.
- He believed the bomb was an appropriate response to Pearl Harbor. The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan was a devastating event for the United States, and Truman saw the use of the atomic bomb as a way to retaliate and demonstrate American strength.
- He believed the bomb's power would convince the Soviets not to challenge American supremacy after the war. Truman wanted to show the Soviet Union, which had recently become an opposing superpower, the extent of American military capabilities.
Therefore, the correct answer is: his basic motivation was to save American lives.
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