Essay Question:
Why did Harry Truman choose to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and then why did he choose to drop the second on Nagasaki just three days later?
Original Directions:
I have included the original project directions in an attached file. Please follow these directions carefully. **NOTE: Please use footnotes. I have chosen this way of citing. No works cited page is necessary just proper Chicago/Turabian footnotes**
Sources and Other Directions:
The directions include the directions for which sources to use.
YOU MUST USE THE PRIMARY ARCHIVES (BOTH OF THEM!!! BUT FOCUS MAINLY ON PULLING THINGS FROM THE GW UNIVERSITY SOURCE) AND YOU MUST PICK ONE OF THE SECONDARY SOURCES TO USE.
I have attached files for the sources that are not linked in the instructions.
Also, please make sure your research is focused on the actual pdf documents (dark blue hyperlinks are part of the document #). You should NOT be quoting from the summaries, but you should use them to figure out which documents are pertinent to your interests and therefore which you should spend more time with. Quote from specific documents. You should be using a few of them throughout the essay!!!!
With reference to the paragraphs themselves, another thing to remember is that the first sentence (topic sentence) of a paragraph should also act as a kind of mini-thesis, clearly relating/supporting the overall argument while laying out clearly what ideas the paragraph will explore. Try to avoid building paragraphs around simple statements of what happened. Instead, make them about specific ideas with the history within the paragraphs either providing the necessary background or the evidence to support that mini-argument. One thing I like doing is what is sometimes called a sentence outline, where rather than outlining the essay in terms of a list of facts or quotes, you organize your thoughts using the main thesis and then the specific topic sentences you will use to prove your points. Then you can place specific documents, their ideas, and surrounding events under these topic sentences based off if they relate to the idea. It makes writing those paragraphs easier as you know how everything fits, and its just about providing the analysis necessary to connect those individual pieces within the overarching idea established by the topic sentence. Chronology is important here, and often ideas will follow the chronology as you are analyzing how specific actions built on each other, but its the ideas that need to take center stage to create a convincing argument. If you want to talk about this, I am available during office hours and will provide an example under resources. Finally, citations: use Chicago/Turabian style footnote citations dont worry about a works cited or bibliography list at the end (citation guide w/ examples is under Files/Resources). This is important because the way you need to cite documents is simply too long to use parenthetical, but its not hard. In Word, when you reach the end of a sentence that needs a citation, simply go to the References tab and hit insert footnote, which will keep a running list at the bottom of your pages and you can add/delete and it will automatically adjust. For other programs, consult google. The PDF under files will explain what you need to do to cite books, newspapers, etc, but the documents are slightly more involved if not very tricky. What you need to provide for each document you quote and/or cite from is the author of the document as best you can tell, what it is (memo, report, etc), its date of production, document#/folder, and where you found it (i.e. which archive, which volume of FRUS). URLs are useful for outside material, but you dont have to include one if you are only using sources from the provided archive (National Security Archive, Foreign Relations of the United States, etc) – though you can.
Sentence Outline:
I have already created a sentence outline stating the thesis or topic sentence for each paragraph. Please follow this outline. If you feel the wording of the topic sentences should be changed, you can do that. Each of the following numbers represents a new paragraph and its topic sentence:
Introduction/Thesis:1. Truman chose to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in order to promptly end World War II with limited civilian casualties for America, Japan, and their allies. Just three days later, he chose to drop a second bomb on Nagasaki; this was a much more controversial bombing as it was seemingly unnecessary in forcing Japan to surrender. Truman’s decision to drop the second bomb can be attributed to not only his hope to end the war, but also to impress the Soviet Union and prove American supremacy in a global sense. (can condense if necessary)
Background:
2. World War II had gone on for an extended period of time, and as more and more lives were being lost, Truman felt the need to have U.S. troops and war experts research new tactics.
3. The Manhattan Project introduced the United States, and the world, to the atomic bomb and as the arms race persisted, the United States felt pressure to invest immense amounts of money and effort to create the bomb.
Hiroshima:
4. The United States chose strategically when picking Hiroshima as the target for the first atomic bomb dropping as it was a center for weapon and steel production.
5. Many argue against the dropping of this first bomb because they feel as though it was unnecessary and citizens were aggressively targeted; but the main objective of the bombing of Hiroshima was to destroy infrastructure so the Japanese would be forced to surrender.
6. This bombing was meant to save lives in the long run because the war had been so tasking and destructive, and change was nowhere near.
Nagasaki:
7. The bombing of Nagasaki is a more controversial bombing as many believe it was unnecessary to end World War II.
8. The United States gained great power in reputation when dropping this second bomb as it can be proven that Truman was mostly persuaded to drop the bomb on Nagasaki in order to impress Soviets and prove American power.
Lasting Impact:
9. The bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been key in international relations since World War II. And the introduction of the atomic bomb has forever changed how the United States is seen and how it continues to intimidate other countries, holding its position as a global powerhouse.
Conclusion
10. Ultimately, the dropping of the first bomb on Hiroshima was necessary in order to end the war and save the lives of many, and the dropping of the bomb on Nagasaki was meant more to further the public image of the U.S. Without the dropping of either as well as both of these bombs, the American stance would be different.
Some additional notes and feedback:
-You must draw heavily from the primary sources rather than the secondary sources. This will create stronger more coherent arguments. Points will be deducted if otherwise done.
-Explain concepts clearly. Statements and claims such as the costs of dropping the bomb should be followed up with facts and details that explain what those costs are and how they were weighed. Draw from sources!!
-The authors you draw from should be talking about the same things. The secondary sources were primarily there to provide background and your argument needs to use primary documents to fully address the question.
-Some important things to use primary sources for: the cost of the invasion in terms of estimates from the time, Trumans advisors saying a bomb will prevent the Soviets from getting to Japan, etc. But they should be used for just about every argument.
-Grammar and paragraph style should be correct. Points will be heavily deducted if not.
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