Brandon Derek Bagley

Atomic Decision Brandon Derek Bagley

Why did President Harry S. Truman decide to use the atomic bombs on Japan? American historians and politicians commonly claim the bombs ended the war against Japan and saved American lives. However, when one investigates the climate of this event and analyzes the pertinent documents, many still being declassified today, the evidence leads to a different conclusion. Upon the death of President Roosevelt an unprepared Harry S. Truman steps into office and is overwhelmed by two expert manipulators in the Secretary of State, James F. Byrnes, and the Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson. This investigation looks to the top military leaders at the time and their agreement that the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not necessary to attain a Japanese surrender and save American lives, even without a land invasion. As the war with Germany and Japan come to a close the United States had spent billions of dollars in developing the atomic bomb and securing materials to prevent competition. The Truman administration discusses the use of the bomb as a way to demonstrate power and thwart the Soviet Union and communism.