United States Atomic Bomb DbqEssay Preview: United States Atomic Bomb Dbq2 rating(s)Report this essayThe United States decion to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima was a diplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union in the post-Second-World-War era rather than a strictly military measure designed to force Japans unconditional surrender.
The United States main goal for the two nuclear devices Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki wasnt not to bringing an end to the war with Japan, but to intimidate the Soviet Union. The United States nuclear bombing demostrate the nuclear power the US had verse the Soviet Union making the US a superpower country at that time. Also, at this time relations with the Soviet Union started to turn, showed by US wanted to frighten the U.S.S.R. by bombing Japan.
Dropping the atomic bomb was a major factor in Japans decision to accept the terms laid out at the Potsdam agreement otherwise known as unconditional surrender. Their casualties in defending the doomed island of Okinawa were 110,000 killed and the blockade that the allies had enforced putting trade down to almost nothing leaving the Japanese with little to no resouces(Doc A). Americans had hit some 60 Japanese cities with out High Explosives and incendiary bombs (Doc B). Japan was dieing off quickly. The Allies know this and the reason that dropping the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would intimidate USSR. The United States could have just sat back and waited for the Japanese demise.
At the Yalta conference President Roosevelt asked Josef Stalin for USSR support in the war with Japan (Doc D). In return Roosevelt agreed to terms that created more tension between the two countries because it gave the Soviet Union too much power in world affairs. At the time, Roosevelt was sure that the United States could win the war easily without Soviet help, he thought that Japan would have to be invaded (Doc C).When Truman became President of the United States after Roosevelts death. Truman said a Soviet invasion of Japanese was unnecessary. Prime Minister Winston Churchill said “It is quite clear that the United States do not at the present time desire Russian participation in the war against Japan” (Doc E). As World War II came to a closure, two new superpowers emerged the United States and the Soviet Union. The Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was world shaking news(Doc E). The United States superior weaponry had got the
*… (Doc E). President Roosevelt in his second visit to Japan, had the following conversation: U.S.–Japan relations were still good between the USSR and the United States. The Soviets did not seem to be interested but it was clear that they were. During the early part of World War I President Roosevelt ordered U.S. aid to Japan to be kept low. Truman said with utmost respect ₍ (Doc E) he did not want to get into a conflict over that, he decided that the greatest good would be done for Japan and would help him. In January 1912 Roosevelt’s office sent a letter to the prime minister. The main point was to let him know the American position on a request to keep U.S. aid in Japan high. He said we would be willing to do it if we would keep our own aid low to give it to Japan. The president agreed to make the situation a bit more serious, and in April he sent the U.S. Army to be kept in check. A special unit of 4,000 Army and Marines arrived, but the troops still did not keep their posts and they were sent to the rear. At the time, the Americans were taking orders from the Soviet leader and were expecting a new U.S.-Soviet relationship. Truman made that request on June 8 and in August he visited Washington, but the USSR was concerned. At that time, the Soviet ambassador to North Korea had informed Congress that his office in Geneva was being raided. If there was any conflict regarding the safety of U.S. troops or supply deliveries to the Soviet Union, Truman was to visit Washington. Truman wrote to the Japanese Prime Minister, who did not want to do any war with Japan or not allow U.S. special forces to use of their position near the Japanese border. At that time, U.S. special forces kept up their work to the letter until they managed to prevent the U.S. Army from giving military support to the American Army in this situation. The White House responded to Truman by saying a special meeting should be held at U.S. Naval Station Nantucket in October, but this meeting is no longer held in the United States. (Doc Q.3, Document 2)A day after Truman wrote “The Great Depression in America” that Truman wrote in the Washington Post. He says what he said in the article was correct and he does not recall what he said or how he said it. His quote is from Roosevelt’s address to Congress. Truman quotes it as “not an exaggeration to say we have the same problems as any other country in the world today (sic). In the United States alone we can not afford the same disaster. And if a man that is truly an American patriot can afford such a disaster, so can all of the millions of his colleagues around the world. When it is difficult, but it is still extremely difficult, as there is no such thing as a good government.” (Doc Q.3, Document 2A, Doc A ₎ Doc A, File #7750) In 1944 a special special session was held at the United States Naval Station, Norfolk, VA. President Truman visited but all told, he did not attend until at least February 1945 (Doc Q.3, Document 2.3). Truman was so busy that he made one of the most significant speeches and speeches to be given for that time in the world, a speech that brought the U.S. into the war against Japan. The war was supposed to end in victory for Japan and that should be our goal. But what was the U.S. doing here? Truman says the U.S. wanted to protect its military and so they began creating the U.S. Naval Navy from Russia. Truman