Entry Task What do you know about the use of the Atomic Bomb in WWII?

Background: Bataan Death March Japan invaded the Philippines on Dec 8, 1941 American & Filipino troops surrendered April 9, 1942 Forced to march 65(+/-) miles, took 6 days 10,000 troops died b/c of brutality (starved & beaten, those too weak to walk were bayoneted) Survivors taken by rail to POW camps, thousands more died from disease, mistreatment & starvation America invaded in October 1944, recapturing the Bataan Peninsula, & liberating the Philippines in early March The War clip 1:09-1:20

Background: Iwo Jima February 1945 Americans needed a base near the Japanese coast Defended by 23,000 Japanese troops & an elaborate network of caves, dugouts, & tunnels US won after almost 2 months of fighting Photographer Joe Rosenthal took the now infamous picture (restaged for the purpose) of Americans raising the flag over Mount Suribachi at the SW corner of Iwo Jima

Background: Okinawa April 1, 1945 Last major battle in the Pacific Final push toward Japan: Okinawa = major air base 180,000 American Army & Marine Corps 130,000 Japanese troops instructed not to fire but instead watch & wait, Battleship Yamato would trap them Huge casualties US: 36,000+ injured, 12,500+ killed Japan: 110,000 soldiers killed, 40,000-150,000 civilians War in Europe is wrapping up, Germany would surrender in just a few weeks

Unit 8: WWII 3.22.18

Goals: Understand what happened in the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki Understand the reasons behind the decision to use the atomic bomb Understand two different perspectives of the bombing’s significance

The Pacific Theater Fighting in the Pacific started 12/8/41 Japan invades the Philippines Bataan Death March October ‘44, Americans invade the Philippines, re-take the islands in March ‘45 Iwo Jima (March ‘45) Close location to Japan – good place to launch attacks from 2 months of fighting – US takes the island Famous photo

The Pacific Theater Okinawa (April ‘45) War in Europe is wrapping up, German will surrender in just a few weeks Air base Huge casualties (Japan loses 110,000 of their 130,000 troops), especially civilians (up to 150,000)

Iwo Jima Okinawa Bataan Peninsula

The Bombing Final stages of WWII in 1945 War in Europe over (V-E Day May 8) The bomb had been developed over several years through the “Manhattan Project”

The Manhattan Project Nazis had an atomic energy program Allies learned later that developing a weapon was never a priority for them August 1942, Los Alamos, NM Two Goals: Develop a weapon to bring a swift end to the war Develop a new, boundless source of energy

The Bombing Paul Tibbets & the “Enola Gay” Dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima: Aug. 6, 1945 “I thought: ‘Thank God the war is over and I don’t have to get shot any more. I can go home.” – Enola Gay crew member

The Bombing Frederick Bock & the “Bockscar” Dropped “Fat Man” on Nagasaki: Aug. 9, 1945 “When the bombs dropped and news began to circulate that [the invasion of Japan] would not, after all, take place, that we would not be obliged to run up the beaches near Tokyo assault-firing while being mortared and shelled…we cried with relief and joy. We were going to live. We were going to grow up to adulthood after all.” – 21 year old US soldier

The Bombing Fireball: 540,000 degrees F Shockwave Radioactivity Black rain Intense heat turned thousands of people into small, charred lumps of flesh Radiation burns and internal damage caused by gamma rays produced lethal injuries to people as far as 2 miles from the center

The Bombing Approximately 100,000 people died within 4 months ½ the deaths happened on the first day Many more deaths in the years later

Why Use the Atomic Bomb? Class read: “July 1945: The Moment of Decision” Take notes in your notebook

Unit 8: WWII 3.23.18

Why Use the Atomic Bomb? Class read: “July 1945: The Moment of Decision” Take notes in your notebook

Timeline February: At the Yalta Conference, Stalin promises to declare war on Japan within 3 months of Germany’s surrender May: Japan reaches out to the Soviet Union to negotiate a peace agreement May 7/8: Germany surrenders (V-E Day) July 24: President Truman approves the use of atomic bombs on Japan July 26: Potsdam Declaration calls for Japan’s complete surrender July 28: Japan rejects the Potsdam Declaration August 6: “Little Boy” is dropped on Hiroshima August 8: The Soviet Union declares war on Japan August 9: “Fat Man” is dropped on Nagasaki August 10: Japan Surrenders on condition of keeping the emperor August 14: Tokyo is bombed August 14: Japan surrenders (V-J Day)

Smithsonian Controversy 1995: Smithsonian Institution exhibit for 50th anniversary of the bomb Cancelled after intense debate: How to display pictures of the victims How to remember the use of the bombs: Victimization Triumph Smithsonian Institution is a collection of 19 museums throughout the US WWII vets did not want the Japanese to be portrayed as the victims of American aggression. Wanted more information on the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers against civilians & POWs Thought it unfair to talk about the surprise use of the atomic bomb without talking about the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor

How should we remember the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki? Your Task How should we remember the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki? You will become an expert on either the Japanese experience or the American experience

Background Read “Two Historical Narratives” Narrative: a story Answer the questions in your notebook

Expert Partners Read the documents Answer the questions to complete the table Work with your partner on this part Answer the 2 questions on the back

Unit 8: WWII 3.26.18

Expert Partners Read the documents Answer the questions to complete the table Work with your partner on this part Answer the 2 questions on the back

Partner Work Discuss with your partner how you would convince someone else – what quotes/facts are convincing? (10 minutes to coordinate)

Group Discussion Discuss how the atomic bombing should be remembered Stay in character & represent that perspective

Group Discussion 1st Japanese Experts, THEN American Experts. Describe your experience and how you see the Atomic Bombing Describe how you think it should be remembered Complete the “Online Memorial” worksheet as you go When you’re done, pick up a packet of images from me

Group Discussion When you’re done, pick up a packet of images from me Discuss which ONE image should be on the Smithsonian’s website about this topic Complete the white worksheet Copy the title, create a caption, & explain why

Class Discussion What did your group choose & why? What disagreements came up? What was difficult about this? What do you really believe? How should the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki be remembered?