Question

2. Imagine that you are one of Truman's advisers. Reply to another student's post

for question 1, describing one choice that Truman could have made. Explain why
this choice could work.
I

Answer 1

Truman could have opted for a demonstration of the atomic bomb in a non-populated area to pressure Japan to surrender, potentially saving lives while still displaying the bomb's power.

Step-by-step explanation:

As one of President Truman's advisers, a viable alternative decision he could have made would be the demonstration of the atomic bomb's power in an uninhabited area as a warning. This demonstration of power could potentially have pressured the Japanese into surrendering without the loss of lives caused by directly targeting Japanese cities.

It could also serve to mitigate the moral implications of using such devastating weapons on populated areas, while still showcasing the technological superiority of the United States to the Soviet Union, thus maintaining the policy of containment during the early Cold War period. Saving American lives was a paramount concern which directed Truman's decision, but demonstrating the bomb's power could arguably have achieved a similar outcome without the controversial loss of civilian life.