Year 9 History Project 2
Was America right to drop the first Atomic bombs on Japan in
August 1945?
Background Information: In December 1941, the American naval fleet
was attacked without warning by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The USA immediately entered The Second World War, fighting against
Japan in The East and Germany in The West. By May 1945, Germany
had surrendered and the war in Europe was over. However, Japan
refused to surrender and fought on.
Following warnings from the American government, the first atomic
(nuclear) bomb was dropped on a live target, the Japanese city of
Hiroshima, on August 6th, 1945. Three days later a second atomic bomb
was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. On August 15th, 1945,
Japan surrendered to the USA and The Second World War ended.
The dates would suggest that it was the dropping of the atomic bombs
which brought about the quickest possible end to the fighting.
Nevertheless, the bombs killed hundreds of thousands of Japanese (most
of them not soldiers, but civilians) either instantly or slowly with
radiation poisoning. For this project, you are going to look at both sides
of the story and decide if America was right to drop the atomic bombs.
What work do I need to do to complete this project?
The project is split into three separate parts:
a) A letter written by the wife or father of an American soldier who had been fighting in The Pacific islands in late
August 1945, thanking President Truman for launching the atomic bombs.
b) A poster campaigning against the dropping of the atomic bombs. The poster must be designed as if it was being
put up in across a university campus in September 1945.
c) A short conclusion, explaining whether or not you think that the dropping of the atomic bombs was the right
decision.
What HISTORICAL SKILLS is this project testing?
The project is asking you to especially demonstrate understanding and use of the following:
KEY CONCEPTS
Cultural, ethnic and religious diversity
a) Being able to show understanding of the fact that
men, women and children in different times and places
in the past had different ideas, beliefs and attitudes.
For this project, that means showing that you
understand that different people living in The USA in
1945 would see the dropping of the atomic bombs in
different ways, depending on who they were and what
the decision would mean/do for them
Interpretation (Points of View)
c) Being able to looking carefully at and weigh up a
range of interpretations of the past to assess how
accurate and truthful they might be.
For this project, that means looking at both sides of
the argument (for and against the dropping of the
bombs) and then forming a conclusion about whether
or not you think that it was the right decision.
KEY PROCESSES
Historical enquiry
b) Being able to look back at the end of a study and
think carefully about what you have learned.
Using evidence
a) Being able to identify, select and use a range of
historical sources, including books and writing, visual
and spoken sources, artefacts and the historic
environment (buildings and sites).
Communicating about the past
a) Being able to present and organise accounts and
explanations about the past that make sense, are
structured (with a beginning, middle and an end) and
backed up with facts and evidence. Being able to use
historical words and meanings.
b) Being able to communicate knowledge and
understanding of history in a variety of ways (writing,
drawing, posters, speeches, etc.) including historical
words and meanings.
How should I complete each of the tasks?
TASK ONE: THE LETTER
Write your letter using the following guidance and instructions. Make sure
that you are doing everything that is asked of you.
a) Include a name, address and date at the top of the letter.
b) Address your letter to "Dear President Truman" Harry Truman
became the U.S. President in April 1945. He gave permission for the
bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
c) Begin your letter by stating who you are and what you feel about the dropping of
the atomic bombs.
d) Name and explain the 3 most important reasons why you feel that the dropping of the
atomic bombs was the right decision. You might want to use the structure below for
each point:
- "The first reason why I am… is the fact that…"
- "This would mean that…" Try to include evidence and facts to back up your point.
Are there any facts and figures that you can put in? Do you have any examples support
what you have written?
e) Explain what the dropping of the bombs means to you personally. How will it affect
you? What will it mean for your son/husband, etc.?
f) End your letter by summarising your points ("Having read my letter, I am sure
that you will agree that…").
g) Sign your letter, having written, "Yours sincerely,".
TASK TWO: THE POSTER
Design an A3 poster to be displayed an American university campus in
September 1945. The poster should try to convince people that the
dropping of the atomic bombs was the wrong decision.
Your poster should include:
a) A title that captures your point of view.
b) A picture or pictures to illustrate your point of view.
c) A 100 word (maximum) summary of your views about the dropping
of the atomic bombs
TASK THREE: THE VERDICT
"America was right to drop the first atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945."
How far do you agree with this statement?
End your project with a brief, but thoughtful judgement as to whether or not America was
right to drop the first atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945.:
• "Having looked at both sides of the argument, I think that…"
• Try to find 3 reasons to support your point of view and then
explain them. "The first reason that I feel this way is the fact
that… This proves that America was right/wrong to drop the atomic
bombs because…"
• Balance you argument by looking at and explaining one big reason
why not everyone would have felt the same way. "However, not
everyone would agree with this. For example…"
• End with a conclusion: "Nevertheless, overall I feel that…"
Where can I find out more? Here are some useful websites for you to use:
• Two useful BBC websites:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/6/newsid_3602000/3602189.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/94/a3951894.shtml
• The Wikipedia entry:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/94/a3951894.shtml
There are some upsetting pictures here.
• Two teacher-made worksheets:
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year9links/wwii/dropbomb.pdf
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year9links/wwii/atombomb.pdf