The dropping of the atomic bomb was one of the most controversial decisions that the United States has made. The reasons behind dropping the bomb are not completely clear. One argument is that the bomb saved American lives. However, some believe this to not be true and that the bomb was dropped for other reasons. Whether or not the bomb had to be dropped is another question puzzling scholars. Stimson views the bomb as necessary in order to save American lives and end the war, Bernstein views the bomb as unnecessary but inevitable because of the new morality, and Alperovitz views the bomb as unnecessary but dropped in order to influence negotiations with Russia.
Stimson is defending the decision to drop the bomb because he views it as the fastest…show more content… Stimson argues that the bomb was used to end the war as fast as possible with the least amount of lives, Bernstein argues that the bomb was dropped because of the accepting of civilian casualties during war, and Alperovitz argues that it was dropped in order to influence post-war negotiations with Russia. Bernstein and Alperovitz both use Stimson when crafting their arguments that dispute Stimson’s. Stimson argues that the bomb was dropped to end the war as soon as possible and cost the least amount of lives; however, both Bernstein and Alperovitz refute this statement. Both Stimson and Bernstein view the bomb as inevitable. While Bernstein does acknowledge the cost of the bomb like Stimson does, Bernstein argues more for the fact that the morality had something to do with the decision, that the new morality made all nations do anything they could in order to win. All three authors view the bomb as a shock. Stimson and Bernstein focus more on the terror it caused Japan, while Alperovitz focused more on how it could be used to scare Russia. Both Bernstein and Alperovitz view the bomb as being dropped to influence negotiations with Russia after the war. Stimson is writing in order to defend a decision that he was involved with. However, Bernstein and Stimson are writing as outsiders, questioning the decision made. Both are writing in the 90s, after the Cold War ended. Stimson is writing right after the end of World War II and during the Cold War. Because Bernstein and Alperovitz are writing later, more documents are unclassified that can be utilized. Many of Alperovitz’s and Bernstein’s ideas overlap. Alperovitz even cites Bernstein. Their arguments are closer to each other than with Stimson. Both Alperovitz and Bernstein are attempting to disprove Stimson. Stimson’s article is less effective than Alperovitz’s and Bernstein’s because of his
