Abstract & Thesis Summary

City before an atomic bomb has hit

On August 6th, 1945 Truman made the decision to drop an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.  Without surrender from Japan, a second bomb was dropped three days later on the city of Nagasaki.  Japan offered a surrender on August 10th and it was made official by August 14th, ending World War II.  Americans dropped the bombs with intentions to end the war, save American lives, and retaliate Pearl Harbor, the bombings were a demonstration of our strength. When Truman made the decision to drop two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, his actions in our opinion were completely necessary to end the war and save American lives.  Had the bombs not been dropped a countless number of people could have died in bloody hand to hand war which would have been worse.

City after an atomic bomb as hit

The Manhattan Project

When Japan pulled a surprise attack on the United States on December 7th, better known as the attack on Pearl Harbor, it put all of America into complete utter shock.  With 18 ships damaged and sunk, 350 planes destroyed, 2,400 dead and 1,178 wounded, Truman made the decision to retaliate.  Thus, the Manhattan project took place in Los Alamos, New Mexico, with the help from J. Robert Oppenheimer and many top scientists all over the U.S.  This project was to create an atomic bomb which costs over $2 billion dollars.  They first tested the bomb in what is known as the trinity test on Monday, July 16th, 1945 at 5:29 am.  Truman asked for unconditional surrender by the Japanese or face prompt and utter destruction.  Without the surrender, Truman went ahead and dropped the first bomb.

Scientists gathered during Manhattan Project

Bomb that was used to be tested in the trinity test

Bombing on Hirroshima

On August 6th, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.  The background behind the dropping of the bomb was a complicated process.  A plane named the Enola Gay dropped the first bomb, known as “ Little Boy”, high over Hiroshima.  This bomb was estimated to kill around 70,000 people instantly, and about the same number of people injured.  The aftermath of this was radiation poisoning which had caused death or disease.  The area of destruction had a 4 mile radius.  This bomb was supposed to make Japan surrender which unfortunately did not happen.  They had the chance to surrender before the bombings but chose not to do so which ended in a consequence for them.  

" Little Boy" First bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6th, 1945.

Hiroshima after the atomic bomb had hit

Bombing of Nagasaki

Stunned by the "Little Boy" bomb, Japan stood with 63 percent less of a city then ever before. On August 9th, 1945, the United States dropped another atomic bomb code named, "Fat Man" just three days later on the city Nagasaki. More than 35,00 lives were lost leaving the government with no other option than to surrender. On August 15th, 1945 Japan announced their decision to surrender. This day is most commonly known as V-J Day. The United States and its Allies had successfully put an end to the Japanese aggression in Asia.

"Fat Man" Second bomb dropped on the city of Nagasaki, Japan on August 9th, 1945.

City of Nagasaki after the bomb had hit

Video Links

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/392814/atomic_bomb_little_boy_original_footage/

The original footage of the bomb "Little Boy" being dropped on Hiroshima


http://www.metacafe.com/watch/758793/the_atomic_bombing_of_nagasaki/

The original footage of the bomb "Fat Man" being dropped on Nagasaki


http://www.5min.com/Video/World-War-II-Japan-Bombs-Pearl-Harbor-1354529

The bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1945

News Paper Articles

Newspaper article when atomic bomb was dropped on Japan 

Newspaper article about world war II and atomic bomb dropped on Nagasak

Who Done It

Throughout this project we both equally researched and worked together to make this blog. Together we wrote about the Manhattan project. Mackenzie wrote about the first bomb dropping on Hiroshima. Anna wrote about the second bombing on Nagasaki. We both split up to find different pictures and websites to gather information.