The Use and Necessity of the Atomic Bomb in World War II...

Part A – Plan of Investigation This investigation focuses on the use and necessity of the atomic bomb in World War II. To what extent did the atomic bomb dropped by the United States during World War II save lives? This will be investigated using websites, books, military accounts, and newspaper articles. Military calculations of what potentially could have happened had the United States invaded Japan instead of dropping the bomb will be researched. Also, information from the Manhattan Project, reinterpretations of the event, and military strategies of several countries will be used. The physical effects of the bomb on the victims will also be considered. Alternate opinions of why the bomb was dropped will be discussed.†¦show more content†¦The United States thoroughly deliberated the decision whether to release the atomic bomb on foreign land. One of the major factors of this decision was the plan of Operation Downfall, a massive two-phase invasion of Japan’s homelands that would involve more than a million American military personnel under the command of General Douglass MacArthur.4 Predictions of casualties and effects of this operation were made by General George Marshall and discussed with President Truman. It was estimated that the invasion would cost 100,000 American servicemen in the initial landings, followed by 31,000 casualties in the next thirty days of the campaign. Marshall further predicted that 20 million Japanese civilians would be killed in the course of the campaign.5 The United States also considered the previous battles and attacks that had taken place in World War II. In the last two major battles with the Japanese on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the combined casualties were estimated to be about 270,000. The death rates were outrageously high for both sides, but especially for the Japanese.6 The Japanese had previously unleashed several kamikaze attacks, suicidal pilots who deliberately crashed their planes onto enemy targets, claiming the lives of thousands. During the sea battle at Okinawa alone, Japanese kamikaze aircraft sank 32 Allied ships and damaged more than 400 others.7 Japan, as well as other countries continued to devise new military strategies that would prolong the warShow MoreRelatedCritical Thinking : The Atomic Bomb1013 Words   |  5 Pagesquestions about the atomic bomb. First, I will be discussing why the atomic bomb was developed. On December 21st, 1938, nuclear fission was discovered in Germany by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman n. It should be noted that this was nine months before World War II. Many physicists immediately saw that nuclear fission could be used to make extremely deadly bombs. The idea of using chemicals for mass destruction was not a new one. 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