Ending the War with Japan 1942-45, U.S. strikes ever closer to Japanese homeland Fighting gets more and more bitter / intense.

Ending the War with JapanEnding the War with Japan 1942-45, U.S. 1942-45, U.S.

strikes ever strikes ever closer to closer to Japanese Japanese homelandhomeland

Fighting gets Fighting gets more and more and more bitter / more bitter / intenseintense

New Commander In ChiefNew Commander In Chief

Harry S Truman, Harry S Truman, FDR’s Vice FDR’s Vice PresidentPresident

Now faced with Now faced with ending the warending the war

Knows very little Knows very little about FDR’s plansabout FDR’s plans

Focus QuestionFocus Question Why did the U.S. Why did the U.S.

drop the atomic drop the atomic bomb on Japan? bomb on Japan?

What has been the What has been the U.S. experience?U.S. experience? ““The American The American

people, in their people, in their righteous might righteous might … shall win … shall win through to through to absolute victory.”absolute victory.”

FDR, December 8, FDR, December 8, 19411941

Operation DownfallOperation Downfall

Consequences of Downfall? Consequences of Downfall?

Fatman and LittleboyFatman and Littleboy ““Within four months we shall in all Within four months we shall in all

probability have completed the most probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human terrible weapon ever known in human history, one bomb of which could destroy a history, one bomb of which could destroy a whole city …”whole city …”

-Sec. of War Stimson to -Sec. of War Stimson to

President Truman, April 25, 1945President Truman, April 25, 1945

August, August, 1945: What 1945: What

now?now? Seeking Japan’s Seeking Japan’s

surrendersurrender July 1945 informed July 1945 informed

of successful test of successful test of the atomic of the atomic bombbomb

Truman’s options Truman’s options seem to be … seem to be …

The OptionsThe Options

1. Allow Japan to surrender on its own terms, the

Emperor stays in power

2. Negotiate a conditional surrender;

demonstrate the bomb or threaten

invasion

3. Use the bomb to force

Japan’s TOTAL surrender.

4. Invade Japan, destroy

its military power and

force Japan’s TOTAL

surrender.

What experts were sayingWhat experts were saying

““We believe that a considerable portion of We believe that a considerable portion of the Japanese population now consider the Japanese population now consider absolute military defeat to be probable. … absolute military defeat to be probable. … Although individual Japanese willingly Although individual Japanese willingly sacrifice themselves [for Japan], we doubt sacrifice themselves [for Japan], we doubt that the nation as a whole has a strong that the nation as a whole has a strong sense of national survival.”sense of national survival.”

-- Report from Combined British-American -- Report from Combined British-American Intelligence Committee, July 8, 1945Intelligence Committee, July 8, 1945

What experts were sayingWhat experts were saying

““The military advantages and the saving of The military advantages and the saving of American lives achieved by the use of American lives achieved by the use of Atomic bombs may lead to a wave of Atomic bombs may lead to a wave of horror and repulsion sweeping over the horror and repulsion sweeping over the rest of the world … a demonstration of the rest of the world … a demonstration of the new weapon might best be made … new weapon might best be made … American could say to the world, American could say to the world, ‘You see ‘You see that sort of weapon we had but did not that sort of weapon we had but did not use.’use.’” ”

––Franck Report, June 1945Franck Report, June 1945

What the experts were sayingWhat the experts were saying

““The Japanese will continue the war until The Japanese will continue the war until every man – perhaps every woman and every man – perhaps every woman and child – lies face downward on the child – lies face downward on the battlefield.” battlefield.”

--Brines, Russell. --Brines, Russell. Until They Eat Stones.Until They Eat Stones.

1944. (Best-seller)1944. (Best-seller)

““The unconditional surrender of Japan is The unconditional surrender of Japan is essential if our plans for world peace are essential if our plans for world peace are to succeed.” to succeed.”

--Pres. Roosevelt, March, 1945.--Pres. Roosevelt, March, 1945.

What the experts were sayingWhat the experts were saying

"Even though we may have to eat grass, "Even though we may have to eat grass, swallow dirt, and lie in the fields, we shall swallow dirt, and lie in the fields, we shall fight on to the bitter end, ever firm in our fight on to the bitter end, ever firm in our faith that we shall find life in death“faith that we shall find life in death“

-Japanese General Anami, 1945-Japanese General Anami, 1945

““[six] Japanese divisions have [moved to the [six] Japanese divisions have [moved to the invasion site, their forces will] grow to the invasion site, their forces will] grow to the point where we attack on a ratio of one to point where we attack on a ratio of one to one which is not the recipe for victory.“one which is not the recipe for victory.“

-U.S. General Willoughby, July 1945-U.S. General Willoughby, July 1945

Examine the arguments for and against Examine the arguments for and against each option.each option.

Which option would YOU choose?Which option would YOU choose? List strongest argument for itList strongest argument for it List strongest argument against itList strongest argument against it

Which option is completely the opposite? Which option is completely the opposite? What is the strongest argument for it?What is the strongest argument for it? Is there any way you could be convinced to Is there any way you could be convinced to

choose that? choose that?