The Decision
The decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima caused a debate in the U.S. that was not easily settled. If the bomb was not dropped, American soldiers would die, but if the bomb was dropped, thousands of innocent Japanese citizens would loose their lives. The U.S. government had to decide which loss was greater. They also had to predict if the American army would be able to defeat the Japanese.
The need for the bomb increased as people started to believe the Japanese leader would not surrender to anything short of an atomic bomb devastating the Japanese people. America had only two bombs at their disposal so they could not waste one in a demonstration of their power over an unpopulated area. Furthermore, the casualties caused by America launching an attack on Japan would have most likely exceeded the casualties of the bomb. The bomb also led to suck a rapid close to the war that the Soviet Union could not intervene.
On the other side of the decision, people claim that Japan was close to surrender because sixty cities had been bombed and other islands were being blockaded by the American Navy. It is also believed that a demonstration over Tokyo harbor would have been sufficient demonstration of power without taking as many lives. Not to mention that Hiroshima was limited in military supply and civilians outnumbered the militia about five or six to one. In addition, news about Hiroshima's destruction did not have time to travel before the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
The need for the bomb increased as people started to believe the Japanese leader would not surrender to anything short of an atomic bomb devastating the Japanese people. America had only two bombs at their disposal so they could not waste one in a demonstration of their power over an unpopulated area. Furthermore, the casualties caused by America launching an attack on Japan would have most likely exceeded the casualties of the bomb. The bomb also led to suck a rapid close to the war that the Soviet Union could not intervene.
On the other side of the decision, people claim that Japan was close to surrender because sixty cities had been bombed and other islands were being blockaded by the American Navy. It is also believed that a demonstration over Tokyo harbor would have been sufficient demonstration of power without taking as many lives. Not to mention that Hiroshima was limited in military supply and civilians outnumbered the militia about five or six to one. In addition, news about Hiroshima's destruction did not have time to travel before the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.