The decision to drop the atomic bomb
Introduction: In 1942, just months after WWII began, President Franklin Roosevelt sanctioned the Manhattan Project. The objective of the Manhattan Project was to create an atomic bomb before our enemies, Germany and Japan. They had already begun the process. In July of 1945 the goal of the Manhattan Project was realized when the U.S successfully detonated the first atomic bomb. Germany surrendered that May, but the war with Japan raged on. President Truman now had at his disposal a way to end the war with Japan quickly. Using the bomb would save American lives and money, but at the expense of the lives of Japanese men, women, and children.
Task: You are the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meaning you are the top military advisor to the president. You must report to the President the pros and cons of using the a-bomb against Japan. Then as Chairman, you must take a position and make a recommendation to the President on which course of action to take.
· You will write a position paper in which you will argue four reasons for using the a-bomb on Japan and four reasons against using the a-bomb on Japan. Based on the information you have presented, you will take a position. State your position and what led you to make that decision.
Process: Each student will complete the four steps of the AHPPA to gather information to write their position paper. Please use the attached worksheet. Steps 2 and 3 should be used by students to complete the graphic organizer. The handout must be filled in before the position paper is written. The position paper will require the use of all four steps.
Step 1 – Identify the problem – Explain in your own words the problem that President Truman faced.
Step 2 – Gather the evidence – Explain why the U.S believed the war with Japan would not come to a quick natural conclusion. Use the resource Total sacrifice from below.
Step 3 – What were the causes of the problem - Describe the pros and cons of using the atomic bomb (4 each).
Step 4 – Evaluate the policy – State and support your position on whether or not the United States should use the atomic bomb against Japan.
Resources
Was the Atomic Bomb necessary to win WWII?
Pearl Harbor
Total Sacrafice
Why the A bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
President Truman's Speech on the bombing of Hiroshima
WWII Statistics
Nagasaki Bomb Survivors
Dropping the Atomic Bomb Video
Truman Press release
Atomic Bomb Leaflet given to Japanese
Correspondence between Truman and Cavert
Arguments Against
Arguments For
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Task: You are the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meaning you are the top military advisor to the president. You must report to the President the pros and cons of using the a-bomb against Japan. Then as Chairman, you must take a position and make a recommendation to the President on which course of action to take.
· You will write a position paper in which you will argue four reasons for using the a-bomb on Japan and four reasons against using the a-bomb on Japan. Based on the information you have presented, you will take a position. State your position and what led you to make that decision.
Process: Each student will complete the four steps of the AHPPA to gather information to write their position paper. Please use the attached worksheet. Steps 2 and 3 should be used by students to complete the graphic organizer. The handout must be filled in before the position paper is written. The position paper will require the use of all four steps.
Step 1 – Identify the problem – Explain in your own words the problem that President Truman faced.
Step 2 – Gather the evidence – Explain why the U.S believed the war with Japan would not come to a quick natural conclusion. Use the resource Total sacrifice from below.
Step 3 – What were the causes of the problem - Describe the pros and cons of using the atomic bomb (4 each).
Step 4 – Evaluate the policy – State and support your position on whether or not the United States should use the atomic bomb against Japan.
Resources
Was the Atomic Bomb necessary to win WWII?
Pearl Harbor
Total Sacrafice
Why the A bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
President Truman's Speech on the bombing of Hiroshima
WWII Statistics
Nagasaki Bomb Survivors
Dropping the Atomic Bomb Video
Truman Press release
Atomic Bomb Leaflet given to Japanese
Correspondence between Truman and Cavert
Arguments Against
Arguments For
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation