Historical Investigation
Given the context of Truman’s ascension to the
Presidency on April 12, 1945, and the fact that
he had not been aware of the Manhattan
Project prior to this time, Did Truman decide to
drop the bomb, or was the use of the Atomic
Bomb inevitable?
WORD COUNT: 2000
Ellen Lee
002751 – 009
Contents
A. Plan of the Investigation
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B. Summary of Evidence .
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C. Evaluation of Sources .
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D. Analysis
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E. Conclusion .
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F. List of Sources
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A. Plan of the Investigation
As World War II began to enter its final stages, the United States of America dropped
two bombs in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. The US believed it to be
a solution to ending the Pacific War that continued even after the war in Europe had
ceased. The United States had called for a surrender of Japan in the Potsdam
Declaration on 26 July 1945. The Japanese government ignored this ultimatum, and
two nuclear weapons developed by the Manhattan Project were deployed. Little Boy
was dropped on the city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, followed by the Fat Man
over Nagasaki on 9 August.1
However, Harry Truman was not the president in power when the Manhattan Project
was being instigated. It had already been in progression at the time of his ascension.
The aim of this investigation is to determine whether or not the of dropping of the two
bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a decision Truman made or an inevitable
event that was necessary in order to end World War II completely. To answer this
question, a wide range of sources have been used, with the focal points being the
nature of the Manhattan project and an analysis of it’s implications, Harry Truman’s
opinion on dealing with issues in Japan, and government expenditure on the
Manhattan Project between the years 1942 and 1945. Additionally, an archive of
Harry Truman’s diary entries and articles and a primary source memorandum from
the Manhattan Project have been evaluated in order to establish their value as sources
to historians.
B. Summary of Evidence
Truman’s Ascension and Views on Japan
Truman came to power in the year 1945 when the US was determined to end the
World War that had devastated Europe and hurt America’s economy and military.
Once Truman came to power, one of his main responsibilities was to end the war in
the Pacific against the Japanese. During this period, Truman was surrounded by
1
Several, A. (2012, January 26). Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
advisors that notified him of the costs of an invasion of Japan. The Japanese had
proved previously that they are very committed to war and refused to accept any form
of defeat or retrieval. Truman had written a letter to Secretary of War, Henry Stimson,
asking what he believed would be the costs and effect of an invasion of mainland
Japan and he replied by saying “Invasion of mainland Japan would cost the lives of
500,000 to 1,000,000 American boys. The estimate of 500,000 to 1,000,000 American
lives for carrying the war to a conclusion appears to deserve little consideration.”2
Truman was heavily pressured into not engaging in a war against Japan. However
Truman did show signs of aggression and force and proved that he would take
extreme measures in order to guarantee the security of the US. August 10, 1945,
shortly after the dropping of the a-bomb in Hiroshima, Truman wrote a diary entry
saying, our terms are ‘unconditional’. They wanted to keep the Emperor. We told ‘em
we’d tell ‘em how to keep him, but we’d make the terms.3 However in 1947, Truman
began to work strongly for the economic recovery of Japan.4 The Truman
administration also began to work on his original outlook of his policy, containment.
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was an American programme to build atomic weapons that
was initiated on the USA’s entrance in to the Second World War. The program was
conducted in secret in a variety of places. 5 The Manhattan Project began in 1942 and
ended in 1946. The project itself worked to develop the US’s nuclear armament and
coordinate the usage of a possible atom bomb. The Manhattan Project was in action
before Truman came to power. Also the project itself greatly believed in the strength
of the atom bomb in saving possible US casualties and ending the long and drone out
World War II. Scientists within the Manhattan Project were eager to use the weapon
and stated that it would promote a satisfactory adjustment of the international
2
National Archives and Records Administration. (2012, April 05). Library and museum. Retrieved
from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/index.php
3
National Archives and Records Administration. (2012, April 05). Library and museum. Retrieved
from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/index.php
4
McCauley, M. (2003). Origins of the Cold War (3rd ed.). Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited
Martin Cannon (2009) 20th Century World History University Press Oxford
5
relations at the time. Also it believed that it would eliminate any possible US
casualties by not having to go to war directly with Japan. The Manhattan Project
members strongly believed that the usage of an atom bomb would mean surrender
from the opponent and that there are no acceptable alternatives to direct military use. 6
Finally the members also believed that the atomic power would be competent in
solving political, social, and military problems.
The Process of Dropping the Bomb
The actual dropping of the bomb took place through Truman’s approval. In August,
after the Japanese government refused the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, Truman
authorized the use of atomic weapons against Japan.7 General George C. Marshall
stated that the U.S would have had to assume that a force of 2.5 million Japanese
would fight to the death as they did on all those islands were already attacked. The
costs of the war would be far too great and also it would be very displeasing for the
U.S. public. Truman stated, “I knew what I was doing when I stopped the war. I have
no regrets and under the same circumstances, I would do it again.”8 On August 6 the
first atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima, Japan’s eighth largest city, with a
population of 200,000, instantly killing 70,000, seriously injuring as many more, and
leveling four square miles of homes and factories. Three days later, a second bomb
was dropped on Nagasaki with similar results. 9 The atomic bombs drove the Japanese
to make peace at once. On September 2, 1945 the formal surrender was signed. Japan
was placed under a United States army of occupation.10
6
Memorandum by Manhattan Project scientist J. R. Oppenheimer, "Recommendations on the
Immediate Use of Nuclear Weapons," (June 16, 1945) Top Secret Found online:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/19.pdf
7
Several, A. (2012, January 26). Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
8
Several, A. (2012, January 26). Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
9
William R. Keylor (2006). The Twentieth Century World and Beyond: An International History Since
1900 (5th ed.). Great Britain: Oxford
10
Palmer (2007). A History of the Modern World (10th ed.). McGrawHill International Edition
C. Evaluation of Sources
National Archives and Records Administration. (2012, April 05). Library and
museum. Retrieved from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/index.php
This archive, designed for both students and teachers, embodies Truman’s diary
entries, articles on the dropping of the bomb, and official documents and audio files.
It circles around the decision to drop the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and
supports this with numerous primary and secondary sources.
The archive supports its argument by supporting it with primary sources that range in
variety providing many different directions of approach. Another valuable aspect of
the source is that it carries primary sources originating from Truman himself, which
allows for the reader to truly analyze Truman’s intention in dropping the bomb. Also,
the audio files and the official documents add legitimacy to the sources making the
information more reliable. One of the constraints of this archive is that there is a
limited number of modern day analysis and editorials. The documents presented are
also limited so even though there are primary sources and official letters and
statements, there is a limitation to the actual information being presented.
Additionally, the scope of the archive is sparse, limiting the amount of actual analysis
that’s available from the archive.
Memorandum by Manhattan Project scientist J. R. Oppenheimer, "Recommendations
on the Immediate Use of Nuclear Weapons," (June 16, 1945) Top Secret Found
online: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/19.pdf
This is an actual Memorandum taken from during the Manhattan Project. It is a
primary source that revolves around the “Recommendations of the Immediate Use of
Nuclear Weapons” and contains detailed explanations describing the benefits of using
an atomic bomb. There are statistics and numerous aspects and reasons as to why the
United States should seriously consider the usage of a nuclear weapon.
This source is limited in the sense that the document has not been approved by the US
President and is actually taken from a scientist that worked during the Manhattan
Project. Also, the document is rather short and does not contain a large variety of
information the historian may need to fully assess the liability of the document.
However it is a valuable source because it contains the actual outlooks of the
Manhattan project and serves as proof that the US was capable and was willing to use
the A-bomb prior the ascension of Harry Truman. Also the source gives a variety of
reasons as to why the US should use Nuclear Weapons. Finally, the source is stamped
“Top Secret” which shows the degree of significance and legitimacy of the document.
D. Analysis
The usage of the bomb and whether or not it was inevitable or not can be analyzed
through the usage of sources. In 1945 Japan’s situation was catastrophically
hopeless.11 The Japanese were devastated due to the course of the World War. Also
the Japanese leaders were seeking to surrender in the summer of 1945. Due to the
decoded Japanese messages, American leaders knew that Japan was about to
surrender when they unleashed the nuclear bombs.12 Also, Truman had not publically
made a defense speech regarding the dropping of the bomb during this period.
Truman was in presidency during this period and the Truman administration is
responsible for the actual dropping and leashing of the atomic bombs. Also through
the process of overlooking the Manhattan Project, Truman was well aware of the
consequences and the scope of destruction of the bomb.
Word Count: 2000
11
Richard B. Frank. (August 8th 2005).Why Truman Dropped the Bomb. Retrived from
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/894mnyyl.asp
12
Richard B. Frank. (August 8th 2005).Why Truman Dropped the Bomb. Retrived from
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/894mnyyl.asp
In the document above, Truman responds to a journalist explaining and justifying his
dropping of the bomb. In the document Truman takes full responsibility stating that he
knew what he was doing when he stopped the war that would have killed a half
million youngsters on both sides. Truman in fact boldly states that he would do this
again and that he is not afraid to publically announce this fact. Through this document
we can infer that Truman was more than capable of taking a strong stance against the
Japanese. Also it shows that he did not fear of revealing his part in the usage of the
atom bomb. This evidently shows that Truman took a large part in the decision
making process of dropping the bomb in 1945.
However, Truman came to presidency in the year 1945. The Manhattan Project,
which had been working on the development of nuclear weapons, began in the early
1940s. Truman did not have information or association to and of the Manhattan
Project when he became the president. The U.S, between the years 1942 and 1946
spent over $21,000,000,000 in the development of the atomic bomb. 13 Also, through
the analysis of the memorandum from the Manhattan Project, it is clear that the
project itself had set out the benefits of the usage of the bomb and explicitly stated
that there would be no better alternative to ending the war.
Truman had also received a lot of pressure from the Secretary of War and the public.
After the immense amount of casualties that World War II brought about to the US,
the US public was not in favor of suffering another long war in the pacific. The
Secretary of War made it clear that the casualties that will result through the battle
would be of a significant amount and strongly urged the usage of the atom bomb.
Although Truman may have been responsible in making the decision of dropping the
nuclear bomb, the decision making process itself involved numerous other unseen
parties.
E. Conclusion
To come to a conclusion of whether the usage of the atom bomb was inevitable or
initiated by Harry Truman, a number of factors have been examined: The time in
which Truman came to office, the nature of the Manhattan Project, and the process of
dropping the bomb. There are a number of documents supporting the fact that Truman
was in fact responsible for the dropping of the atom bomb. However, this does not
eliminate the significance and influence the Manhattan Project that was initiated
13
Hewlett and Oscar E. Anderson, Jr., The New World: A History of the United States Atomic Energy
Commission, Volume 1, 1939/1946 (1972).
before his ascension, played upon the development and usage of the bomb. Harry
Truman became the president of the United States at a time where the U.S. was
internationally and domestically pressured into finally ending the war. Also it was at
a time where the U.S. began to take a far more aggressive approach in dealing with
U.S. security. Although Truman, as the president made the final decision to drop the
atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there are numerous elements that prove that
the usage was in fact inevitable. Truman himself believed that the detonation of the
bomb would be far more effective and necessary for both the U.S and Japan, and
stated that the usage prevented a large amount of casualties. Truman therefore
concluded that the dropping of the bomb was inevitable and decided to finalize the
documents that enlisted the measures the United States would take against Japan and
the final straw of World War II: The Pacific.
Word Count: 1,990
List of Sources
National Archives and Records Administration. (2012, April 05). Library and
museum. Retrieved from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/index.php
Memorandum by Manhattan Project scientist J. R. Oppenheimer, "Recommendations
on the Immediate Use of Nuclear Weapons," (June 16, 1945) Top Secret Found
online: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/19.pdf
Hewlett and Oscar E. Anderson, Jr., The New World: A History of the United States
Atomic Energy Commission, Volume 1, 1939/1946 (1972).
William R. Keylor (2006). The Twentieth Century World and Beyond: An
International History Since 1900 (5th ed.). Great Britain: Oxford
Martin Cannon (2009) 20th Century World History University Press Oxford
McCauley, M. (2003). Origins of the Cold War (3rd ed.). Great Britain: Pearson
Education Limited.
Palmer (2007). A History of the Modern World (10th ed.). McGrawHill International
Edition
Richard B. Frank. (August 8th 2005).Why Truman Dropped the Bomb. Retrived from
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/894mnyy
l.asp
Odd Arne Westad (2003). Russia America and the Cold War (1st ed.). Oxford
Several, A. (2012, January 26). Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki