What can you see in this picture? What do you think has happened?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Lesson Objectives To understand why the U.S.A dropped the Atomic Bomb To consider the effects of the Atomic Bomb

WHAT WAS THE ATOMIC BOMB? Scientists in America had been working on a new type of weapon for many years – the atomic bomb. In March 1945 they carried out the first successful test in the desert in Mexico. The effect was tremendous. Scientists had invented the most powerful weapon on earth, with the power for total destruction. The Americans only had two more of these bombs left, but each could destroy a city.

It will save ONE MILLION American lives!! The war in the Pacific The war in Europe ended in May 1945, but the war in the Pacific between America (and the allies) and Japan raged on. The USA believed that Japan would never surrender and Japan had 5,000 aircraft and 5million soldiers prepared to fight to the death. What do you think the U.S President (president Truman) would have thought when he heard there were these two bombs ready to use? It will save ONE MILLION American lives!!

Why did the USA drop the Bomb? A military weapon to end the war quickly, save lives and keep the Russians out of the war. keep the Russians out of the war in the Pacific Why did the USA drop The Atomic Bombs on Japan? To test the weapon on live human beings to see what affect it had. Revenge for Pearl Harbour and Japanese war crimes against Allied prisoners of war

The first bomb – “Little Boy” The first bomb was to be dropped on a city called Hiroshima. On August 6th 1945 at 8.15am, the bomber the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. There was a glaring pink light which burned out people’s eyes. Anyone within a kilometre of the explosion became a bundle of smoking charcoal within seconds. Within minute around 70,000 people were dead and those still alive were in agony with severe burns. The blast wave also destroyed 78,000 buildings.

Map Showing the Damage Done to Hiroshima The centre of the explosion was hotter than the surface of the sun!

The second bomb – “Fat Man” Three days later, America dropped the second atomic bomb on the town of Nagasaki, killing 36,000 people instantly. The effects were once again horrific and devastating in total. Within 6 days Japan had surrendered to America and the war in the Pacific was over.

Was it worth it? The human cost of the bombs was terrible. The world had never witnessed a weapon like it and would never see it used in combat again. The effects of the bomb are still being felt. Have a look at these pictures and see if you think it was worth it.

YOUR TASK… You must read through the 10 effects of the atomic bomb on the sheet. You must then number them in order from what you think was the most important, to the least important. When you have done that you must colour-code the effects as either short term or long term. You must then answer the questions on the worksheet in your books. Good luck!

Your Task Produce a speech explaining your feelings on the dropping of the Atomic bomb You must explain if you think the US was right to drop the bomb and explain your answer

Plenary You say we pay Enola Gay Little boy Hiroshima Atomic bomb Nagasaki