Presidential Decisions: #33 Harry Truman (D-Mo)

Decision: Authorizing the use of the first two atomic bombs on Japan in World War II

Historical Circumstances (1/2): During World War II, the United States had a top-secret program to develop a new, powerful weapon that split an atom to create a massive explosion. The program was code named the Manhattan Project and the work was done in secret in the Arizona desert. The program was code named the Manhattan Project and the work was done in secret in the Arizona desert. It was so tightly protected that not even Vice-President Harry Truman knew about it. It was so tightly protected that not even Vice-President Harry Truman knew about it. When FDR died in April 1945 and Truman became president, he was informed about this new weapon, the atomic bomb. When FDR died in April 1945 and Truman became president, he was informed about this new weapon, the atomic bomb.

Historical Circumstances (2/3): By then, the war in Europe against Nazi Germany and Fasicst Italy was almost over. But the war in the Pacific against the Empire of Japan was still raging. The United States fought a series of battles against the Japanese, island to island, across the Pacific, pushing them back to Japan. The United States fought a series of battles against the Japanese, island to island, across the Pacific, pushing them back to Japan. As the military planned to invade Japan, they estimated heavy casualties because the Japanese fought to the death. As the military planned to invade Japan, they estimated heavy casualties because the Japanese fought to the death. Truman decided to use the new weapon instead. Truman decided to use the new weapon instead.

SPECIFIC long-term effects (1/3): In August 1945, the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. It destroyed the whole city. Days later, a second bomb was dropped on a second Japanese city, called Nagasaki.

SPECIFIC long-term effects (1/2): The atomic bombs caused the Japanese to surrender to the United States and the Allies, ending World War II. But this new, powerful technology also ushered in a new age. At first, only the United States had this weapon, making it the most powerful country in the world. At first, only the United States had this weapon, making it the most powerful country in the world. As the Cold War—the era of competition between the United States and the Soviet Union—began, the world was divided into two camps. As the Cold War—the era of competition between the United States and the Soviet Union—began, the world was divided into two camps. Some scientists who worked on the bomb were afraid that the U. S. monopoly on the A-Bomb made the country too power and helped the Soviets develop their own by Some scientists who worked on the bomb were afraid that the U. S. monopoly on the A-Bomb made the country too power and helped the Soviets develop their own by 1950.

SPECIFIC long-term effects (2/2): This made those two countries the superpowers. This made those two countries the superpowers. It also made a war between the two terrifying, as the use of nuclear weapons such as the a-bomb would result in “mutual assured destruction,” potentially destroying the whole planet. It also made a war between the two terrifying, as the use of nuclear weapons such as the a-bomb would result in “mutual assured destruction,” potentially destroying the whole planet. This made the Cold War a very tense period, as this type of war was narrowly avoided a handful of times in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. This made the Cold War a very tense period, as this type of war was narrowly avoided a handful of times in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s.