Answer to Question #172000 in History for Appa

Question

Why did Truman make the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan?

Answer 1

As Harry Truman heard of the Manhattan Project's progress, he realized he was facing a monumental decision. He had the ability to stop the war with Japan, but that would entail the use of the most frightening arms ever invented. Truman said that his decision to drop the bomb was primarily focused on strategic reasons. A Normandy-style amphibious landing may have lost a million people their lives. Truman claimed the bombings had also spared Japanese lives. The President has no hope of prolonging the battle. About 3,500 Japanese kamikaze raids had already wreaked havoc and claimed the lives of thousands of Americans. A presentation of the atomic bomb to the Japanese leadership was refused by the President. He was well aware that even though the test was effective, there was no assurance that the Japanese would surrender, and he believed that a botched demonstration would be worse than none at all. And the science elite underestimated the devastating consequences of RADIATION SICKNESS. Truman noticed no distinction between Hiroshima's atomic bombing and Dresden or Tokyo's FIRE BOMBING.