Ronald Takakis Hiroshima :: essays research papers

Although WW II ended over 50 years ago there is still frequently discussion as to the events which ended the War in the Pacific. The primary event which historians attribute to this end are the use of atomic attacks on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although the bombing of these cities did thread the Japanese to surrender, many people today ask Was the use of the atomic bomb necessary to end the contend? and more importantly Why was the decisiveness to use the bomb made? Ronald Takaki examines these questions in his book Hiroshima.The official reason given for dropping the bomb was to bring a quick end to tht war and save the Statesn lives. However, Takaki presents many different explanations as to why the decision to use the bomb was made. He disagrees with the popular belief that the decision to use the bomb was made solely to quickly end the war in the Pacific and to save American lives. Takaki presents theories such as international concerns, American sentiment, and racism in an attempt to more fully explain why this decision was made. The United States entered WW II immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl foster on December 7, 1941. The U.S. entry was a major turning point in the war because it brought the strongest industrial strength to the Allied side. The Americans helped the Allies to win the war in Europe with the surrender of Germany on May 7, 1945. However, the war in the Pacific continued. The war with Japan at this point consisted primarily of strategic bombings. America had recently completed an atomic bomb and was considering using this weapon of mass destruction for the first time. The goal was to force the unconditional surrender of the Japanese. Roosevelt had used the edge unconditional surrender in a press conference in 1943 and it had since become a central war aim. Truman and his staff (still feeling bound by FDRs words) demanded unconditional surrender from the Japanese. Consequently on July 26, 1945 Truman issu ed an ultimatum to Japan. This ultimatum stated that Japan must accept unconditional surrender or suffer utter loneliness of the Japanese Homeland. This surrender included abdication of the throne by their emperor. Japan was not willing to surrender their dynasty and ignored the ultimatum. On August sixth and August 9th, atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively.