After reading the three required primary documents (White House Press Release, Truman’s “Why I Dropped the Bomb,” and “Alternative Viewpoints”) you will write a minimum four FULLpage, double-spaced, essay answering all three provided questions. This assessment is designed for you to read primary documents, which are sources from the people who witnessed or were involved in the events in question, and then think critically about the decision to drop the atomic bomb(s), before and after the act. You may consult your lecture notes and the relevant textbook pages, but you should not use any outside sources. Your paper should be your own thoughts and critical analysis, not those found on Wikipedia or whatever corners of the internet you happen to come across. If you quote the primary documents, you must use proper citations in Chicago or Turabian style (see “Citations” below).
Format
Your four FULL page essay will be double-spaced in 12 point,Times New Roman, font. All margins will be set to 1 inch. Microsoft Word is automatically set to 1.5 inch spacing. You must change it to double spaced with zero point spacing before and after. Failure to follow these instructions will result in a lower grade. Youshould not include a title or heading. Please place your name in the header or in the file name just in case of a Canvas SNAFU.
Your paper must be a word document (.doc/.docx) or PDF. If you use a service such as Google Docs, you must download the file as a word doc or PDF first or Canvas will not be able to accept your paper submission or will remove your formatting and any possible citations, which will lead to a loss of points or a plagiarism violation. Again, you must download your paper into the proper file format first if you use an online service such as Google Docs.
Questions (You Must Answer All Parts of All Three QuestionsIn Your Essay)
1) Why, according to the White House Press release from August 6th, 1945 and Pres. Truman’s editorial, did the United States chose to drop the atomic bomb on Japan? Use specific evidence from these two sources to back up your assertions.
2) According to the third document, was dropping the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the only alternative the United State had in ending the war with Japan? If not, provide at least three alternatives the U.S. could have chosen instead of dropping the atomic bomb.
3) In your opinion, was the United States justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? If not, what were the next steps the US could have taken? In your opinion was there a better “moral” alternative to take? If so, explain why you believe the United States was justified.
