Should the United States have dropped the atomic bomb on Japan?

WWII 1941 1944 April 12, 1945 U.S. joins the war most Axis Powers surrender (gave up) Japanese continue to fight April 12, 1945 FDR dies Vice President, Harry S. Truman becomes President of U.S.

(Nazi Concentration Camp) Place/Event B Dates C People Approximate # of People Dead D Time Days C/D People Murdered Per Day Trail of Tears (US) October 1838 - March 1839 4,000 180 22 Chelmo (Nazi Concentration Camp) Dec. 1941 – March 1943 June 1944 – July 1944 150,000 480 313 Belzec May 1942 - August 1943 600,000 1,250 Auschwitz September 1941 – May 1945 1,250,000 1,350 926 (Low Estimate) 4,000,000 2,963 (High Estimate) Hutus and Tutsis (Rwanda) April 1994 – July 1994 800,000 100 8,000 Nagasaki August 9, 1945 40,000 1 Hiroshima August 6, 1945 100,000

Atomic Bomb Manhattan Project 1944 1945 top secret attempt of scientist from the U.S. and Europe to create a weapon to stop Germany and Japan during World War II. 1944 U.S. creates a successful atomic bomb Capable of destroying everything in sight 1945 Truman agrees to drop the Atomic Bomb on Japan

August 1945 August 6, 1945 First Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima August 9, 1945 Second Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki JAPANESE SURRENDER!

Should the U.S. drop the Atomic Bomb? Read through the reasons for and against the atomic bomb? What do you think? Why?

Immediate Effects of the Bomb Ranging from purple spots on the skin Hair loss Nausea (vomiting) Bleeding from the mouth, gums, and throat Weakened immune systems Massive internal hemorrhaging (internal bleeding) Disfiguring (mutilate) radiation burns Killed or permanently damaged fetuses in the womb.

Long Term Effects Medical Findings Social Effects “An irreversible (permanent) injury” remains in cells, tissues, and organs, leading to such blood disorders as leukemia, and other cancers are “related to exposure to the atomic bomb.” Increased eye damage, called “atomic bomb cataracts” due to long exposure (contact) to radiation. Children who were subjected to radiation while still in womb are shown to have small bodies and heads were common…some children were “emotionally and intellectually retarded” into adulthood. Deaths from leukemia among exposed survivors had been increasing. “A-bomb damage” includes…”social disintegration” and “psychological and spiritual shock.” “Victims suffer constant anxiety,” leading to loss of jobs, disintegration (breakup) of families and personality breakdowns.

“Answering the Aim” Based on the facts, do you think the United States should have dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?