Why did America use the atomic bomb against Japan?

The explicit reason was to quickly end the war with Japan. But it was also meant to send a message to the Soviet Union. Ever since America dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945, the question has been: Was that amount of death and destruction really necessary to end World War II?

What were the arguments for and against dropping the atomic bomb?

Others have argued against the use of the bombs with evidence such as: it was not necessary, it was inhumane and it led to the modern nuclear age and the threat of nuclear war. Still others argue that the first bomb used on Hiroshima may have been justified, but that the second used on Nagasaki was not.

What was the debate about using atomic bombs against Japan?

For Marc Gallicchio, the answer lies in the domestic politics of the United States and Japan, which drive a narrative that unfolds less like a debate than a geopolitical thriller.

When did the US drop the atomic bombs on Japan?

America's use of atomic bombs to attack the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 has long been one of the most controversial decisions of World War II. Here, a group of historians give their views on whether US President Truman was right to authorize these nuclear attacks…

Why did the US decide to use the atomic bomb?

Alternative explanations include the idea that the United States was largely interested in using nuclear weapons as a way to end the war quickly and prevent the Soviet Union from becoming involved in the fighting in the Pacific. President Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb without public or congressional debate.

Which is the only country that has ever used an atomic bomb?

The United States remains the only country to have ever used a nuclear bomb in war. The nuclear war ushered in the end of World War II and a devastating chapter in world history. Here's what you need to know about the attacks and how Hiroshima honors those who died.