Was The Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki Morally Justified

Was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ethically justified? – Why Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Japan – By Grace Kelsall World War 2 saw the emergence of America as a new world power on August 6th 1945, also internationally known as the traumatizing day for Hiroshima; after an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb. World War Two is considered a great turning point in modern history, it being one of the bloodiest and horrific wars; exposing all countries around the world to the nuclear age. Many key events, battles and campaigns have led up to President Truman’s decision, which ultimately brought the surrender of Japan and subsequent end of World War Two. Nevertheless, the ethical implications of this†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is an awful responsibility that has come to us...My object is to save as many American lives as possible but I also have a human feeling for the women and children of Japan† (The National Interest, 2015, online). From this statement, it is evident that Truman is acting in an official capacity as president of the United States, doing the best he can to protect his nation. He did not seek to destroy Japanese culture or the inhabitants, the goal was to destroy Japan’s ability to make war. There is a vast amount of contributing factors behind Truman’s decision; some include: - The United States wanted to force Japan’s surrender as quickly as possible to minimise American casualties - US needed to use the atomic bomb before the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan to establish US dominance afterwards (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, n.d, online) - The belief, subtly reinforced by racist stereotypes, that the behaviour of Japanese forces, from attacks on Chinese cities in 1937 through Pearl Harbour to the Bataan death march...nullified any humanitarian consideration for the Japanese people (Kyoko + Mark Selden, 1989, book) â€Å"I realise the tragic significance of the atomic bomb...having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbour...We have used it in order to shorten the agony of young Americans. 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