Why Did President Truman's Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb

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With the war raging in the South Pacific in early 1945, in Iwo Jima and Okinawa to name a few. The United States Navy had Japan surrounded and were awaiting word on the invasion into Japan. With President Truman now in office and the appointed Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, a decision was to be made whether to invade Japan, or utilize a newly developed weapon of mass destruction known as the Atomic Bomb. Things to be considered are the facts that with the Japanese surrounded and no imports, the Japanese people would have to surrender or ultimately starve. Secondly the Generals on land were in agreement that the Japanese were ready to surrender and an invasion on Japan would be unnecessary. However, the Generals were never consulted for their opinions of whether or not to invade Japan. It stands however, that President Truman wanted the war to end swiftly sparing the lives of more Americans. …show more content…
Stimson. This drafted letter included an original and revised version of a press release announcing to the American people, President Truman’s decision to drop the Atomic Bomb. A weapon developed secretly unbeknownst to the American people. A weapon far more powerful than ever known to …show more content…
In doing so, more American lives were spared than those lives lost in the bombing of Hiroshima, the war was ended quickly with no need to invade Japan, and Americans had completely destroyed Japan’s ability to make war. The scholar Sadao Asada best summed it up stating, “In the end, it was the Hiroshima bomb that compelled them to face the reality of