#704 World War II: Atomic Bombs

Preparation: #704

Huge fires that broke out a few hours after a nuclear bomb was detonated on Aug. 6, 1945, over Hiroshima, Japan, caused billowing clouds of smoke. Credit United States Army, via Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, via Associated Press and The New York Times.

Hiroshima, Japan, in September 1945, a month after the detonation of an atomic bomb. Credit Stanley Troutman/Associated Press and The New York Times.

Context: Pacific Theater at the end of World War II

Key question: Was President Truman justified in his decision to use nuclear weapons against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945?

Evaluate evidence

Examine Atomic Bombs: Multiple Perspectives handout. For each item, identify:

• What is the most important information conveyed in each document? In other words, what portion might you underline if you were reading this for research?
• What plausible conclusions could we draw from this document that might be helpful in answering our key question.

Discussion

By show of hands, split the class into three groups: (1) those who support Truman’s decision, (2) those who are skeptical of his decision, and (3) 1-2 facilitators to lead our discussion and pose questions to both sides. Each team will meet to review the evidence available from the handout and from Foner, with the facilitator(s) meeting with Mr. Hall.

With the time that remains, we will conduct a student-led discussion based on these materials. With five minutes remaining, we will ask the facilitator to recap what we have learned, with an opportunity for others to aid the debrief.