Hiroshima Persuasive Essay

Words: 986
Pages: 4

Sam Schimmel
History 11
Barton

Skeleton Essay Outline: 6 paragraph (¶) essay

Although the bombing of Hiroshima killed a large number of Japanese civilians, overall it was justifiable because it brought a quick end to the war, saved many American lives, and prevented the Soviet occupation of Japan.

Although the dropping of the bomb shortened the war and saved lives it did kill enormous numbers japanese civilians. In a report by the Atlantic Monthly it was stated that, “At Hiroshima the atomic bomb killed about 80,000 people, pulverized about five square miles, and wrecked an additional ten square miles of the city, with decreasing damage out to seven or eight miles from the center.” This attack on the city of hiroshima, a city of non
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Because the war showed no large signs of coming to an end in the near future, American forces were planning further attacks on Japan which were undoubtedly going to result in heavy casualties on both sides. Before the decision was made to drop the atom bomb, the Joint War Plans Committee was asked to put forth alternatives, one of which was the invasion of the Japanese heartland, more specifically the island of Kyushu. Stationed there was an estimated 350 thousand Japanese troops were stationed, including 25 thousand naval troops and 95 thousand air troops. This report also included projected outcomes of this invasion. Their estimates ranged from 130 thousand American casualties to 220 thousand casualties. Additionally, historian Norman Palomer writes, “” Using the battle for Okinawa as a model it can be surmised that out of these 350 thousand Japanese troops, only 26 percent would have survived and the other 74 percent, or 260 thousand troops, would die in battle. It was also calculated that during the battle of okinawa, for every two Japanese soldiers killed one American would die. Using these same calculations if the island of Kyushu were to be invaded it would result in anywhere between 75 to 110 thousand American casualties. Dropping the bomb avoided the invasion of Kyushu and inevitable enormous loss of life on both