Hiroshima Essay - 1173 Words

Before the Japanese city Hiroshima was bombed, as early as July 1945, the city was targeted for something else. While the atomic bomb is highly criticized for its destruction, the United States’ government believed it was a necessary measure for the time. Faced with a lack of other options, the use of nuclear warfare was viewed as the most efficient way to end American involvement in the war. Looking back at the tragedy, alternative solutions could have improved the situation, creating benefits for both sides. Hiroshima was a devastating military blow to Japan with high physical damage, but its impact did not help the United States achieve its desired political goals of ending the war quickly, with minimal loss of life. With specific†¦show more content†¦On July 16, 1945, the first test in Alamogordo, New Mexico, proved that the bomb was prepared for release onto the Japanese population (Seibert 1).The calculations revealed the bomb’s maximum blast effect was i ntended for a target over one mile in radius, meaning the population had to be crowded, making it perfect for urban Hiroshima. (Avalon Project- Selection par.5).Now that a strategy was in place, it was time to prepare for the attack and the outcomes that would follow. Besides the physical aspects of the atomic bomb, the political reasons must also be taken into consideration. When justifying the actions taken against Hiroshima, President Harry Truman viewed the bomb as a horrifying and necessary WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) that would help protect the American country from unwanted harm (Walker 146). Truman’s Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, even called the bomb â€Å"a Frankenstein monster that could devour mankind† (Walker 44).A certain level of premeditation was involved with this nuclear warfare, and as of July 1945, the city had been reserved for the bombing, meaning no American bombers were allowed to touch it (Walker 134). Even as the weapon was developed and tested, the American population remained unaware but protected, as the goal was to kill Japanese, not Americans (Walker 39). In Hiroshima’s state of preservation, it made it an ideal target, which would yield high damage. Stephen Walker, the author of Shockwave , described â€Å"Hiroshima’s pristineShow MoreRelated Hiroshima Essay661 Words   |  3 Pages The most significant theme in John Hersey’s book â€Å"Hiroshima† are the long- term effects of war, confusion about what happened, long term mental and physical scars, short term mental and physical scars, and people being killed. 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Serious reconciliation is needed due to this event, and both sides of the argument need to be strongly consideredRead MoreThe Nuclear Crisis Of Hiroshima And Hiroshima836 Words   |  4 Pageshighlights a Cold War era fear of intentional nuclear annihilation. Consider, for example, how the survivors of the Grafenrheinfeld disaster are publicly called â€Å"Hibakusha,† a direct reference to the survivors of the 1945 nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. This name, according to Natalie Eppelsheimer, â€Å"suggests†¦no difference between the dangers of civilian and military nuclear policy: surviving victims of radiation of a nuclear disas ter must live with the same consequences as the surviving victimsRead MoreHiroshima, Japan, And Japan1352 Words   |  6 PagesAnswers Who: Hiroshima, Japan and Nagasaki, Japan Leader of Japan: Hideki Tojo, Minister of war Leader of United States: General Douglas MacArthur Hiroshima Hiroshima is a city located in Honshu, Japan. On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima became the first city in the world to be struck by an atomic bomb. (Hiroshima, britannica.com) From 1868 it was a military center, and was a target for the atomic bombing by U.S. during World War II. Nagasaki Nagasaki is a city located in KyushuRead MoreHiroshima And Nagasaki Bombing Of Hiroshima1206 Words   |  5 PagesWorld War Two Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing The Bombing In 1945, the US dropped 2 atomic bombs on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, causing hundreds of thousands civilian deaths. Some people say that this act helped to end the world war and save more lives, but others think that it was not needed and wasn t the cause of the Japanese surrender. Sequence of Events 5th August 1945 President gives approval to use bombs 6th August 1945 Bombing of Hiroshima 9th August 1945 Bombing of Nagasaki