Monday 29 April 2013

Were the Americans justified in dropping the atomic bomb?

Were the Americans justified in dropping the atomic bomb?

           I believe that the Americans were justified to drop the atomic bomb but they shouldn't of droppped it on Japanese civilians. I think it was wrong of the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbour because at that time the United States was neutral and barely supported the Allies. The Americans had the right to retaliate because the Japanese should of been punished for bringing the Americans into the war. However the bombs the USA used were to powerful to be used on civilians. The first bomb dropped on Hiroshima "directly [killed] an estimated 80,000 people. By the end of the year, injury and radiation brought total casualties to 90,000–140,000" (www.wikipedia.org). A bomb this large should have been dropped on a miltary base and should have been smaller. The two bombs killed 100,000's and most of these people were innocent Japanese civilians. There was no need to drop such big atomic bombs on these two cities which were destroyed by the blast. I think the Americans were justified to drop the bomb but they should have dropped it somewhere else or made it smaller.  

5 comments:

  1. What do you think would have happened if the Americans didnt drop the nuke.

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  2. Good facts Riley. DO you think if America only dropped 1 nuke, that Japan would come right back and drop one?

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    1. Japan didn't have nuclear capabilities at this time.

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  3. Good facts Riley. DO you think if America only dropped 1 nuke, that Japan would come right back and drop one?

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  4. Riley, Japan should not have targeted the United States, but the United States, while neutral, were supporting the war efforts of the allies.

    I agree that the weapons should not have been used on civilians. I don't know how I feel about their use in general. I don't know if America's usage of the bombs actually limited casualties, like some supporters argue.

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