3. Today- Hand in “Sidelines” if you haven’t
Take out t-chart- was the use of nuclear weapons to end World War 2 justifiable?
Discuss/ debate
Written response due THURSDAY:
Describe 2 arguments justifying their use
Describe 2 arguments against their use
Defend your stance.
Notes: Aftermath of WW2

5. THESIS: The United States was justified in its decision to use atomic weapons against the Japanese to end World War II.

6. THESIS: The United States was justified in their decision to use atomic weapons against the Japanese to end World War II.
Support for the THESIS
Arguments against the thesis

7. Justify- show an act to be just, right or moral
The U.S. condemned targeting civilians by Germany and Britain during World War 2. How can they justify bombing Japan?
VIDEO: did the nature of the war in Asia, and/ or the attack on Pearl Harbor, influence your stance?
Is using a nuclear bomb any different than firebombing Japanese cities? Is either justifiable?
If the bomb had been successfully detonated ½ year earlier, would we be justified in bombing Berlin?
Would Germany/ Japan had been “justified” in using these bombs against NYC or LA?
Did the description of the bombing in the video influence your decision? (kindergarten children “giving a face” to the 200,000 who perished)?
What were the other options? Was this necessary?
What did the Soviet Union have to do with the decision? Does this influence your stance?
Does the president have an obligation to his/ her troops to use any means available to achieve military goals without putting them in harms way?
Was Nagasaki necessary?

9. Do you agree or disagree?_____________________________________
(10 points): include an EXPLANATION of two key arguments in favor of using the bomb
(10 points): include an EXPLANATION of two key arguments against using the bomb
(5 points)- Defend your position.

10. The Aftermath The destruction Yalta Conference- Nuremberg War Trials
What to do in Europe?
The U.N.
Nuremberg War Trials
Occupation of Japan

13. Should the U.S. take on a leadership role after World War 2 or return to isolationism? Why/ why not?

14. Yalta Conference The Big Three: FDR- US Churchill- Great Britain
Stalin- USSR

15. Germany
Divided into four military occupation zones

16. Soviet controlled eastern Europe?
Stalin guarantees free elections

17. Will Soviets join the UN?
FDR- plans on creating the United Nations after war
Stalin agrees to come to conference in April
USSR joins the UN
United Nations
Idea of FDR (he gave it the name)
Founded March 1945
Senate approves US entering 65-7

18. Nuremberg War Trials
Crimes against the Peace- planning and waging an aggressive war
War Crimes- acts against the customs of warfare, such as the killing of hostages and prisoners, the plundering of private property, and the destruction of towns and cities
Crimes against Humanity- the murder, extermination, deportation, or enslavement of civilians

19. Occupation of Japan
The United States has a 7 year military occupation of Japan under General Douglas MacArthur

20. Japanese war crime trials
1,100 Japanese arrested and put on trial
7 executed, including Prime Minister Tojo

21. Economic growth Free market economics introduced to Japan
Remarkable economic recovery

22. Japanese politics under American occupation
The “MacArthur Constitution”:
Democratic constitution written for Japan
April independent nation again
Soon becomes US’s biggest Asian ally

23. WORLD WAR I
WORLD WAR II
America’s entrance into the war
Impact on the economy
Effects on groups of Americans
Balancing civil liberties and national security during war (Supreme Court)
Goals of Presidents in planning peace after the War
“Era” that came to an end with the war