Journal March 25, 2015 Why did the US decide to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Do you think the US justified in its decision? Why/why not? What other alternatives did the US have?

Manhattan Project Secret committee that developed the atomic bomb in hopes that Germany wouldn’t do so first J. Robert Oppenheimer was the scientist that developed the atomic bomb

Interim Committee An advisory group of scientists, military leaders, and government officials that debated whether or not to drop the atomic bomb Decision to drop the bomb ultimately rested with President Truman “You should do your weeping at Pearl Harbor”

Hiroshima First atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima – the site of a large army base 100,000 people living there were civilians 140,000 people died in the explosion or within a few months from burns or radiation poisoning 90% of the city’s buildings were damaged or destroyed

Nagasaki 3 days after Hiroshima, US drops another bomb on Nagasaki After this destruction, the government of Japan accepted the American terms of surrender

"Little Boy"

“Fat Man”

The Atomic Bomb Ground temperatures: 7,000°F Hurricane force winds: 980 miles per hour Energy released: 20,000 tons of TNT Buildings destroyed: 62,000 buildings Killed immediately: 70,000 people Dead by the end of 1945: 140,000 people Total deaths related to A-bomb: 200,000 people The overwhelming destructive power of the Hiroshima bomb, and of the bomb dropped on Nagasaki three days later, changed the nature of war forever. Nuclear destruction also led to questions about the ethics of scientists and politicians who chose to develop and use the bomb.

The Home Front

Learning About the War The federal government tried to keep civilians of all ages committed towards the war Victory gardens, liberty bonds, rationing were all ways to get people involved in the war effort The government controlled all war news – censors screened soldier’s letters, blocked publication of war casualties, and produced war films that showed the heroics and valor of war

Population Shifts The war triggered one of the greatest mass migrations in American history More than a million newcomers poured into California during the war African Americans left the south for northern cities in record numbers

Families in War Time Many young men and women rushed into marriage War heightened the appeal of marriage as an anchor in troubled times The draft started with just single men, then married men without children, and finally fathers were drafted by 1943 Left behind were “service wives” who were given $50 a month by the government

Social Adjustments Mothers struggled to care for children alone Kids were taken care of by neighbors or friends as more moms were working An increase in juvenile delinquency as more teenagers left at home alone When fathers did come home there was a painful readjustment period

Economic Gains Unemployment fell to a low 1.2 % Average weekly pay rose 10% during the war Farmers also prospered during the war Crop production increased by 50% and farm income tripled Over 6 million women had entered the work force - boosting the % of women in total workforce to 35%

Popular Culture With so many goods unavailable, Americans looked for other ways to spend their money – Read more books and magazines – Bought more records (“White Christmas” was popular at home and with the troops) – Went to baseball games – although most of their favorite players had been drafted to war – About 60% of the population went to the movies each week

GI Bill of Rights Helped ease the transition of returning servicemen to civilian life Provided education and training for veterans, paid for by the federal government About 7.8 million veterans attended colleges and technical schools Also helped provide home loans so veterans could buy a home