Atomic Bomb

The Atomic Bomb

There has been much controversy between scholars, politicians, and even civilians as to whether the atomic bomb was necessary to end World War II. Many people look at this issue from a military or political point of view and others from an ethical point of view. From prior research and education, I have gathered some knowledge about the atomic bomb and I have also acquired new information from the articles regarding the topic.

The world’s first and second atomic bombs were dropped in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th, 1945. Several days later Japan surrendered and World War II officially ended. This information is common knowledge to the ordinary student who has studied U.S. history and world history throughout high school and college. What is left unclear in many history textbooks is the exact reason for the atomic bomb. Decades later, many people still ask why was the atomic bomb dropped. To this day, there is no straight answer. With new research, I gathered new knowledge and information on the atomic bomb that I then processed by integrating the newly acquired information with my own previous knowledge. This has allowed me to achieve a new conceptual understanding of the topic. I was able to gather several reasons why the atomic bomb seemed absolutely necessary and several reasons why it seemed unethical.

It has been argued that the atomic bomb was crucial for achieving world peace, the end of World War II, and thus the end of Communism. It is also believed that if the atomic bomb had not been dropped, then Japan would not have surrendered, causing thousands of American lives to have been lost in an invasion of Japan. Another reason why it would seem that the atomic bomb was necessary is that the Japanese deserved to be taught a lesson for the lives lost in Pearl Harbor and because they had been very cruel to the American prisoners of War. Many military leaders and politicians say that the...