Victory in Japan

Use of Atomic Bomb

Victory in Japan

After Iwo Jima…Allies are very close to victory in the PacificCaptured most major islands

Iwo Jima, Okinawa, othersStarted bombing raids on the main islands

of Japan.Tokyo Firebombings

Switch Gears– Development of Atomic BombStarts with the Einstein/Szilard’s letter to

RooseveltInforms him of the power of UraniumThat it can be used for a weaponThat if he doesn’t start developing one, it will

be too late and Germany will already have one.

Manhattan ProjectThe development of the atomic bombPerformed in secret at the University of

ChicagoEnrico Fermi and J Robert Oppenheimer

were the ones in charge, amongst many of the most famous physicists in history

To use or not to use…Victories in Iwo Jima and Okinawa opened

the way for an invasion of Japan.Japan still had a huge army that would

defend the landthe war would last much longermore American losses

Truman looked to the secret weapon of the Manhattan Project.

SecretsBest kept secret of the war…more than

600,000 Americans were involved in the project but few knew its ultimate purpose.

Even Truman did not know until he took over the presidency.

First testing in New Mexico in 1945demonstrated an amazing bomb.

Pro vs. ConPro Conthe bomb would end

the war and save lives.

If not used, it would be a waste of money.

Would demonstrate power to the USSR (where tensions were mounting).

Immoral to drop without fair warning.

Unnecessary to use- Japan was already close to surrender.

Looked bad for the US to be the first to use the bomb.

The DecisionIn July, Truman decided to use the bomb.The US warned Japan that it faced “prompt

and utter destruction” unless it surrendered.

August 6-bomber Enola Gay dropped Little Boy over Hiroshima and totally destroyed the city.

Japan hesitated to surrender.

3 days later, Fat Man was dropped over Nagasaki

By the end of the year, 200,000 had died from injuries and radiation.

Emperor Hirohito was horrified and could not bear to see innocent people suffer any more.

August 14, 1945: V-J Day

SurrenderSeptember 2, 1945

US and Japan signed formal surrender agreement on the USS Missouri.

Unconditional surrender BUT Truman allowed Japan to keep their Emperor

Japan US forces occupied Japan

for seven years, under command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Introduced free-market practices and a new constitution (gave women’s suffrage and basic freedoms).

Still known as MacArthur Constitution.

Emperor Hirohito remained in his position, but he had to tell the Japanese that he was not divine.

Yalta ConferenceFebruary, 1945The Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill, and

Stalin) met in Yalta, USSR.They discussed the fate of Germany and

the postwar world.Stalin wanted to keep Germany divided into

occupation zones (US, GB, USSR, France).Churchill disagreed, but FDR wanted the

USSR’s help with Japan and wanted them in the United Nations.

The US Post WWIIThe economy boomed-unemployment

dropped and there was money to spendGreat population shift-many moved to

California and African Americans moved to the North.

Family structure changed as women worked.

GI Bill of Rights-gave education and training for vets and govt loans for homes and businesses.