World War II EssayTotal: 20 points

Topic: Evaluate the United States’ decision to use the atomic bomb to end the war with Japan during World War II.

I. Introduction: (3 pts)a. BRIEFLY give background leading to this topic by include some facts about the

position of the war in the Pacific between the U.S. and Japan, the nuclear development progress of the U.S., etc.

b. CLEARLY state your claim

II. Supporting Paragraphs: Include at least TWO (2) paragraphs with evidence and reasoning from the data included AND class information. You must use the data provided (cite the document used). (10 pts)

III. Counterargument & Refutation: “Some people would say ___________because _________________. (counterargument) However, they are wrong because __________________. (refutation)” (5 pts)

IV. Conclusion: Summarize thoughts and restate your claim (2 pts)

Document A

Document B

Why the bomb was not needed, or unjustified:

Japan was ready to call it quits anyway. More than 60 of its cities had been destroyed by conventional bombing, the home islands were being blockaded by the American Navy, and the Soviet Union entered the war by attacking Japanese troops in Manchuria.

American refusal to modify its "unconditional surrender" demand to allow the Japanese to keep their emperor needlessly prolonged Japan's resistance.

A demonstration explosion over Tokyo harbor would have convinced Japan's leaders to quit without killing many people.

Even if Hiroshima was necessary, the U.S. did not give enough time for word to filter out of its devastation before bombing Nagasaki.

TABLE A: Estimates of CasualtiesHiroshima Nagasaki

Pre-raid population 255,000 195,000Dead 66,000 39,000Injured 69,000 25,000

Total Casualties 135,000 64,000

The bomb was used partly to justify the $2 billion spent on its development. The two cities were of limited military value. Civilians outnumbered troops in Hiroshima five or six to one. Japanese lives were sacrificed simply for power politics between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Conventional firebombing would have caused as much significant damage without making the U.S. the first

nation to use nuclear weapons.

BY BILL DIETRICHSeattle Times staff reporter

Document C

“The Decision to Use the Bomb” (February 1947)By Henry Lewis Stimson (Secretary of War 1940-1945)

… The possible atomic weapon was considered to be a new and tremendously powerful explosive, as legitimate as any other of the deadly explosive weapons of modern war. The entire purpose was the production of a military weapon; on no other ground could the wartime expenditure of so much time and money have been justified. …

On July 28 the Premier of Japan, Suzuki, rejected the Potsdam ultimatum by announcing that it was “unworthy of public notice.” In the face of this rejection we could only proceed to demonstrate that the ultimatum had meant exactly what it said …

… Had the war continued until the projected invasion on November 1, additional fire-raids of B-20’s would have been more destructive of life and property than the very limited number of atomic raids which we could have executed in the same period. But the atomic bomb was more than a weapon of terrible destruction; it was a psychological weapon. …

The bomb thus served exactly the purpose we intended. The peace party was able to take the path of surrender, and the whole weight of the Emperor’s prestige was exerted in favor of peace. When the Emperor ordered surrender, and the small but dangerous group of fanatics who opposed him were brought under control, the Japanese became so subdued that the great undertaking of occupation and disarmament was completed with unprecedented ease.

Document D