1. The Factors in the Decision to Drop the Bomb 1. Military 2. Potsdam 3. Japanese Unconditional Surrender 4. Alternatives

2. 1. Military USE After the battle of Okinawa, Truman sees the dropping of the bomb as a way to… After the battle of Okinawa, Truman sees the dropping of the bomb as a way to… 1. end the war quickly 1. end the war quickly 2. save approximately 1 million US soldiers 2. save approximately 1 million US soldiers

3. 2. The Russian Factor a. E. Europe b. The Pacific

4. Relations w/ USSR – E. Europe At Yalta At Yalta USSR will oversee E. Europe, give reparations from Germany USSR will oversee E. Europe, give reparations from Germany Gave into Stalin’s demands A LOT - WHY!?!?!? Gave into Stalin’s demands A LOT - WHY!?!?!? USSR would join in the Pacific USSR would join in the Pacific At Potsdam At Potsdam Tensions Rise over E. Europe Tensions Rise over E. Europe No longer giving into Stalin as much - WHY!?!?!? No longer giving into Stalin as much - WHY!?!?!? We had the bomb We had the bomb WHY USE IT for the RUSSIAN FACTOR? WHY USE IT for the RUSSIAN FACTOR? Churchill, FDR, and Stalin at Yalta

5. The Potsdam Conference July 1945 Truman stated that the US had a “powerful and destructive new weapon”, but did not say specifically that it was a nuclear bomb. Truman stated that the US had a “powerful and destructive new weapon”, but did not say specifically that it was a nuclear bomb. Appeared Stalin did not grasp the significance of the weapon Appeared Stalin did not grasp the significance of the weapon

6. Relations w/ USSR - Japanese FDR at Yalta promised Stalin in exchange for USSR declaration of war against Japan FDR at Yalta promised Stalin in exchange for USSR declaration of war against Japan Japanese territory Japanese territory economic rights in Manchuria economic rights in Manchuria USE BOMB to END WAR BEFORE USSR gets involved! WHY? USE BOMB to END WAR BEFORE USSR gets involved! WHY?

7. 3. Demand for an Unconditional Surrender and Japanese Response

8. The Potsdam Declaration July 26, 1945: Japan is given an ultimatum, known as the Potsdam declaration: July 26, 1945: Japan is given an ultimatum, known as the Potsdam declaration: 1. Japan must surrender immediately or face “prompt and utter destruction”. 2. Implied that Emperor Hirohito would be removed from the throne but not clear. 3. No mention of Soviet entry in the war or the atomic bomb.

9. Excerpt from the Potsdam Declaration: “We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction. “ “We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction. “

10. Japan’s Response Japanese premier wanted to accept, could not convince military leaders who really had the power Japanese premier wanted to accept, could not convince military leaders who really had the power Many feared removal of Emperor from throne and tried as a war criminal Many feared removal of Emperor from throne and tried as a war criminal Hint from Tokyo that government might surrender, in return that Japan could keep their emperor but could not be trusted*** Hint from Tokyo that government might surrender, in return that Japan could keep their emperor but could not be trusted*** Officially - Japan refuses to surrender and announces that it will “ignore” the Declaration. Officially - Japan refuses to surrender and announces that it will “ignore” the Declaration.

11. Do Now – Take your seats Do Now – Take your seats HW – HW – 1. Read ??? 1. Read ??? 2. Quiz 2 classes 2. Quiz 2 classes 3. DBQ 3 classes 3. DBQ 3 classes

12. Alternatives to dropping the bomb Drop the bomb or: Massive invasion of Japan, costing approximately 1 million Allied casualties Massive invasion of Japan, costing approximately 1 million Allied casualties Naval blockade to starve Japan and continued fire-bombing Naval blockade to starve Japan and continued fire-bombing Demo of new weapon on deserted or scarcely populated island to pressure Japan to surrender Demo of new weapon on deserted or scarcely populated island to pressure Japan to surrender Weaken Allied demands for an unconditional surrender Weaken Allied demands for an unconditional surrender Simply stop fighting Simply stop fighting

13. Consider this… "As long as America and England insist on unconditional surrender our country has no alternative but to see it through in an all-out effort for the sake of survival and the honor of the homeland." "As long as America and England insist on unconditional surrender our country has no alternative but to see it through in an all-out effort for the sake of survival and the honor of the homeland." - Japanese prime minister Shigenori Togo in turning down surrender demand, July 11, 1945.

14. In-class notebook: Rank the options for ending the war in terms of 1 – best way to end the war to 6 – include the atomic bomb and the alternatives. (You may add a seventh option, if you see it as the best way to end the war.) Rank the options for ending the war in terms of 1 – best way to end the war to 6 – include the atomic bomb and the alternatives. (You may add a seventh option, if you see it as the best way to end the war.)

15. “Fat man” (plutonium) “Little boy” (uranium)

16. Hiroshima – August 6, 1945 Chosen because Chosen because large size large size "an important army depot“ "an important army depot“ potential that the bomb would cause greater destruction because the city was surrounded by hills potential that the bomb would cause greater destruction because the city was surrounded by hills Approximately 140,000 deaths by the end of 1945 Approximately 140,000 deaths by the end of 1945 About ½ on the day of the bombing About ½ on the day of the bombing Others died from injury or illness due to radiation Others died from injury or illness due to radiation The majority dead were civilians The majority dead were civilians

17. Nagasaki – August 9, 1945 Nagasaki was one of the largest sea ports in S. Japan Nagasaki was one of the largest sea ports in S. Japan Great wartime importance because Great wartime importance because wide-ranging industrial activity: ordnance, ships, military equipment, and other war materials. wide-ranging industrial activity: ordnance, ships, military equipment, and other war materials. Bombings prior to the Atomic Bomb caused concern and many civilians left for rural areas Bombings prior to the Atomic Bomb caused concern and many civilians left for rural areas An area about 2.3 miles by 1.9 miles was destroyed An area about 2.3 miles by 1.9 miles was destroyed Approximately 80,000 deaths by the end of 1945 Approximately 80,000 deaths by the end of 1945

27. In an August 1945 poll, 85% of Americans felt it was OK to use the atomic bomb. When the bombs dropped and news began to circulate that [the invasion] would not, after all, take place, that we would not be obliged to run up the beaches near Tokyo assault-firing while being mortared and shelled, for all the fake manliness of our facades we cried with relief and joy. We were going to live. We were going to grow up to adulthood after all. ~ Paul Fussell, age 21 in 1945