Deciding to Use the Bombs
Harry S. Truman had to decide whether or not to launch an invasion upon Japan, or display the power of the bombs. The invasion of Japan would cost millions of lives, The blockade of Japan would take time and money. The demonstration of the new atomic bomb on a deserted island to display the power could be more effective as a show of force to Japan and might save thousands of civilian lives which may be lost in a bombing of a city. The Allied powers could also lessen their demands for an unconditional surrender of Japan. Ultimately, Truman decided it was necessary to drop the bombs on Japan, and on August 6, 1945 the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The United States threatened to drop a second bomb on a Japanese city but they did not believe the U.S. As a result, three days after the first explosion, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The formal surrender agreement was siged on September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Misouri off the coast of Tokyo.
Harry S. Truman had to decide whether or not to launch an invasion upon Japan, or display the power of the bombs. The invasion of Japan would cost millions of lives, The blockade of Japan would take time and money. The demonstration of the new atomic bomb on a deserted island to display the power could be more effective as a show of force to Japan and might save thousands of civilian lives which may be lost in a bombing of a city. The Allied powers could also lessen their demands for an unconditional surrender of Japan. Ultimately, Truman decided it was necessary to drop the bombs on Japan, and on August 6, 1945 the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The United States threatened to drop a second bomb on a Japanese city but they did not believe the U.S. As a result, three days after the first explosion, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The formal surrender agreement was siged on September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Misouri off the coast of Tokyo.