How should we remember the dropping of the Atomic Bomb?

How should we remember? Today you are going to choose an image that will go on a United Nations website commemorating the dropping of the atomic bomb. The image you choose will tell viewers a lot about how you want them to remember the event. This will be their first impression. Will you choose an image that: – Represents Japanese victims of the bomb? – Represents American retaliation for Japanese war atrocities? – Is neutral and informative? – Represents American patriotism?

Historical Narratives A narrative is a story, and like any story, there is more than one way to tell it. I need TWO volunteers to read the two examples of historical narratives explaining the dropping of the atomic bomb – Hiroshima as Victimization – Hiroshima as Triumph After we read both excerpts, answer questions #1 and #2 under the readings on your handout.

Japanese & American Expert Groups We will now divide the class in half – – ½ of you will be Japanese Experience experts and the other ½ will be American Experience experts – Each of you will get a set of documents (A- E) to review and an expert handout to complete. In pairs, you will read the directions and the documents to find EVIDENCE to support your side. Each person should complete their own Expert handout.

Japanese Experts: highlight or underline quotes, facts, images, information, etc. that supports the “Hiroshima as Victimization” narrative. In other words, look for information that proves that America was wrong to drop the atomic bomb. American Experts: highlight or underline quotes, facts, images, information, etc. that supports the “Hiroshima as Triumph” narrative. In other words, look for information that proves that America was right to drop the atomic bomb.

Small Groups Arrange yourselves into groups of 4, with 2 Japanese Experience Historians and 2 American Experience Historians. Work to complete the “Online Memorial Decision” handout. (1 per pair)

HOW to do this: Together, each pair (two Japanese Experts and two American Experts) shares the evidence for their argument with the other pair. DO NOT INTERRUPT! Each pair will record the other pair’s argument on the top of the handout.

Selecting an Image Using the packet of images given to your group of FOUR (2 Japanese/2American Experts): – Select ONE image to go on a United Nations website representing the dropping of the atomic bomb. – Some images are NOT of the bomb itself, but all are related to the decision to drop the bomb and tell their own story. Your job is to select an image that will influence how you want viewers of the website to remember the bomb. – Each pair will record the group’s reasoning for the selection on the bottom of the Online Memorial Decision handout.

Class Presentation of Images & Reasoning As I show each picture, those groups that chose the image should be prepared to discuss why they chose it. Select ONE person from your group to speak.

Class Discussion Which images were easy to eliminate? People are often asked: Should the United States have dropped the bomb? Why is that a difficult question? Do you feel like we can judge Truman’s decision? Why or why not? What would we need to know to feel qualified to judge? (Think about other sources you would need to research…)

What to turn in… Japanese/American Experience Expert Handout (each person should have one of these) Attach the above to: – Online Memorial Decision Handout you completed in your group of four (there should be TWO of these, one completed by each pair) Turn in the attached handouts to the turn in file under ONE person’s name.