1. To Drop or Not to Drop? That is the Question. A WebQuest for 9th- 12th Grade (Social Studies) Designed by Alex Proctor mailto:ap597326@wcupa.edu Lauren Malone mailto:mal1121@comcast.net Maddie Daley mailto:mw622582@wcupa.edu

2. INTRODUCTON On August 6th and 9th in 1945, The United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Almost one month later on September 2, 1945 The Japanese formally surrendered to The United States. The decision of the United States to drop the bombs made world leaders question the ethics of the United States and the necessity of their actions.

3. TASK For this Webquest you will be enacting a mock trial of President Truman for his decision to drop the bomb. Your class will be evenly divided into two teams which will consist of the prosecution and defense. Each team will be attempting to develop an argument based on historical facts, defending or condemning the actions of Harry Truman. The end product of this webquest will be a verdict decided by the teacher.

4. Procedure Step 1: Select your student roles –Student Roles Lawyers Lawyer’s Assistant Witnesses Reporters

5. Lawyers Develop an argument for your case through research Work with witnesses on the questions you will ask Be prepared to cross examine witnesses

6. Lawyers’ Assistants Do extensive research on opposing view Do research on opposing side's witnesses Develop cross examination questions

7. Witnesses Do research on your character Prepare for the cross examination questions that you will be asked Work on questions with the lawyers Help aid in research

8. Reporters Take detailed notes through out the trial Help with research for your side Based on the evidence presented create a short essay stating who you thought won the trial

9. Step: 2 Based on roles do research to prepare for the trial –Your research should be based on historical facts –Be sure to check the validity of your sources

10. Step: 3 Bring all the research together with your team members to begin forming the foundation of your argument Develop opening and closing statements Create questions for your team's witnesses Create cross examination questions Be prepared to defend your position

11. Step: 4 Perform mock trial –The classroom will be arranged in a court room setting –Guide to Conducting Mock TrialsGuide to Conducting Mock Trials

12. Step: 5 Word process and turn in required information

13. Lawyers Must word process their opening and closing statements Word process a two page paper of the foundation of your argument

14. Witnesses Word process and turn in a one page paper on the character you are being for the trial

15. Lawyers Assistants Word process cross examination questions Create a Works Cited page of all resources your team used

16. Reporters Must word process their notes from the trial Word process a short essay on who you thought won the trial

17. General Resources Atomic Bomb: Decision Documents The National Security Archive Nuclear Damage Documents Relating to American Foreign PolicyDocuments Relating to American Foreign Policy

18. Witness Resources Japanese Survivors Scientific Data for Nagasaki Possible Witnesses

19. Evaluation Rubric

20. Conclusion After this assignment, you will be able to: –Think critically –Plan and organize arguments –Make decisions about controversial issues –Take on the role of a given character –Work in teams –Have a better understanding of the inter-workings of a trial, –Have a better understanding of the post World War II era