1. Atomic Bomb

2. Review:
Base your answer to this question on the cartoon below and on your knowledge of social studies.
Which policy is being questioned in this cartoon?
nonalignment
détente
militarism
isolationism

3. The Letter that started it all….
Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin Roosevelt warning him that Nazi Germany might be working on developing an atomic weapon on the eve of WWII
American response: Manhattan Project Gave approval to develop an atomic bomb
This would set off a race to see who would be the first to create the bomb

4. Manhattan Project Code-name to develop an atomic bomb
Facilities were set up in remote locations such as New Mexico, Tennessee and Washington
First testing of the atomic bomb was done in Alamogordo, New Mexico – Trinity test Successful
Created an enormous mushroom cloud that ushered the Atomic age

5. Potsdam Conference Allied conference held in a suburb in Germany
United States (President Truman) Britain ( Prime Minster Winston Churchill) and Soviet Union (Premier Joseph Stalin) were all in attendance
Discuss the peace settlements in Europe- but did not write any peace treaties
Berlin, Vienna and Austria was split into four zones all controlled by the “big three” and the French
Truman’s ultimatum was issued to Japan- demanded unconditional surrender and heavier air attacks or else… Promised “prompt and utter destruction” if Japan did not surrender  Japan did not

6. Next Stop japan! After Okinawa, Allied forces looked to Japan next
President Truman’s advisers informed him that an invasion of the Japanese homeland might cost the Allies half a million lives
If you were in Truman’s shoes, what would you do?

7. The powerful weapon The atomic bomb/ a-bomb
Was created by 1945 by the Manhattan Project
Scientists had create two types of atomic bombs: Uranium based “the Little Boy” and a plutonium based weapon called “the Fat Man”
The capacity to end the war with Japan was in President Truman’s hands

8. Drop the bomb?
American soldiers had been fighting the war for four years
Meant total destruction
Shorten the war with minimal causalities
Justifies the cost for the Manhattan Project
To simply use the bomb
Impressing the Soviet Union
Response for Pearl Harbor
Forcing Japan to surrender
Save American lives

9. President Truman’s decision was not just made by him- but was supported by a committee of shared responsibility
Japanese were warned- Potsdam Conference

10. Against the bomb Inhuman It is illegal to drop the bomb
The bomb was only created for defensive purposes
It is illegal to drop the bomb
Racially motivated to drop the bomb
What if the bomb doesn’t work? - U.S would look weak and foolish
Demonstration would eliminate the element of surprise
Inhuman
Against the bomb

11. Homeland invasion/blockade
For:
Against:
Operation Downfall-proposed Allied plan to invaded Japan
2 parts- Operation Olympic and Operation Coronet
Operation Olympic- southern Japan Operation Coronet-Planned invasion of Kanto plain near Tokyo
Blockade- with the help of airpower
Proposed operations to capture airbases in Shanghai, China, and Korea -This would give the United States Air Forces bases to bombard Japan
Fears Japan would fiercely fight back if invaded
Cost of millions of American causalities
Japan can predict an invasion
Blockade would prolong the war

12. Hiroshima August 6, 1945 Manufacturing center- 500 miles from Tokyo
Enola Gay (B-29 Bomber Plane)- dropped “Little Boy”
Dropped at 8:15 in the morning
Failed to have immediate surrender from Japan
Explosion was equivalent to the force of ,000 tons of TNT
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Estimated deaths: 90, ,000

15. Nagasaki August 9, 1945 Second Atomic bomb dropped
Bocks car- B-29 Bomber Plane
Thick clouds over the original target - Kokura- took Sweeney to Nagasaki
“Fat Man” was dropped at 11:02 in the morning
More powerful then “Little Boy”-explosion was equivalent to the force of 22,000 tons of TNT
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Estimated deaths: 60, ,000
Result: Japan’s unconditional surrender

17. https://www. trumanlibrary
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Handwritten notes from President Truman
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Bomb
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