Primary sources
Jalen
These pictures were captured by United States planes, surveying the overhead view of the damage caused by Little Boy, their new uranium based atomic weapon. Within the first milliseconds of Little Boy's detonation, electro-magnetic energy in the form of gamma rays, neutrons, and x-rays sprayed up to two miles in every direction. The rays were deadly for all of those within a half mile. A giant fireball, 300 meters wide, erupted, sending out an immense flash of light. Temperatures underneath the fireball were estimated to be 4000 degrees Celsius. Rough estimates of 70,000 humans were dead instantly in Hiroshima, either vaporized in the blast, or their bodies turned in to carbon. The heat rays of the blast left permanent shadows of both objects and humans, their outlines cast on to remaining surfaces such as metal or stone. An estimate of another 70,000 were injured severely, with many later dying of severe burns. In the days and weeks after the blast, survivors experienced vomiting, purple sores, and hair loss, due to radiation poisoning. Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000-166,000 people in Hiroshima alone. The plus sign in the smallest circle represents "ground zero", or the point that the bomb detonated. These powerful images show the utterly devastating destructive force of a nuclear weapon.
The telegraph shown above was sent to President Truman from Samuel McCrea Cavert, the General Secretary of the Federal Council of The Churches of Christ in America. The telegraph was sent on August 9th, 1945, the day of the second atomic attack against Japan. Samuel Cavert informs the President that many people in America are deeply disturbed at the use of these weapons of mass destruction. Samuel Cavert and his peers believed that after these two attacks, the Japanese people should be given more time to verify the facts about the weapon, and to reconsider the ultimatum. They are urging the President to give Japan a good opportunity to accept the surrender terms before he would unleash another bomb upon Japan's people. President Truman responds by flipping the focus from wrongdoings he was currently committing, to the past and possible future wrongdoings of the Japanese. He mentions the attacks on Pearl Harbor, and the murder of American soldiers, but does not consider the amount of innocent civilians he has murdered with the use of his atomic attack. Truman then refers to the Japanese as beasts, which is understandable in this time of a world at war. I do believe that instead of attempting to shock the Japanese in to surrender by committing war crimes, that President Truman should have clearly outlined the destructive power they had available to use. Atomic bombs targeted at cities, are targeted at killing civilians. Although many of these civilians died instantly, just as many suffered horribly in the following days, months, and years.
Jack
In this letter, that was written on July 17, 1945 to the President Harry S Truman, 12 scientists that started this petition were warning the President about the seriousness of using this Nuclear Bomb on Japan. These 12 scientists have been working on atomic power in order to protect themselves from Japan using an atomic bomb on them. The 12 scientists felt that the use of atomic bomb on Japan can not be justified unless the there has been a public statement and they had a opportunity to surrender. If the Japanese decide not to surrender than the scientists felt that action must be taken but they shouldn't forget the moral responsibilities as well. This is very important because the scientists gave them guidelines to follow but eventually Truman went against it and used the bomb anyway.
This letter, written on August 9th 1945. Harry S Truman wrote to Richard Russell that even though the Japanese people were uncivilized and were beasts that didn't mean that the Americans had to behave in the same way.
Harry Truman wasn't going to drop the atomic bomb unless it was necessary for it to be dropped, he didn't feel right killing many Japanese people. Truman believed that one the Russians entered the war the Japanese would surrender and there would be no need to drop the bomb. Truman also stated that although he had to protect the American people he also wanted to save Japanese lives. Richard Russell didn't mind bombing innocent civilians and was encouraging for it to happen. This was important because if Richard Russell didn't support and encourage the bombing of Hiroshima.
Harry Truman wasn't going to drop the atomic bomb unless it was necessary for it to be dropped, he didn't feel right killing many Japanese people. Truman believed that one the Russians entered the war the Japanese would surrender and there would be no need to drop the bomb. Truman also stated that although he had to protect the American people he also wanted to save Japanese lives. Richard Russell didn't mind bombing innocent civilians and was encouraging for it to happen. This was important because if Richard Russell didn't support and encourage the bombing of Hiroshima.
Cyrus
The letter explains that Henry Stimson wanted to talk to former President Harry S. Truman on a secret matter, which was to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Henry Stimson also talks about the present foreign relations, which had to do with the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese Army regarding the destruction of USS Arizona. The letter shows how important it is for Henry Stimson to seek revenge on these Japanese bomb pilots and start revenge on the Japanese for killing U.S soldiers and destroying the Navy base.
Henry Stimson was the secretary of War, former President Harry S. Truman gave full authority to Stimson to take charge of the the entire atomic bomb project. Stimson planed on using “Little Boy” (the Hiroshima bomb) to be dropped as early as possible. He wanted Japan to surrender, so he thought that on August 6 he would provide the final push Tokyo needed. Nothing seemed to happen to Henry Stimson he had Harry Truman drop “Fat Man” on Nagasaki on August 9, which made Japan offered to surrender the next day.
Henry Stimson was the secretary of War, former President Harry S. Truman gave full authority to Stimson to take charge of the the entire atomic bomb project. Stimson planed on using “Little Boy” (the Hiroshima bomb) to be dropped as early as possible. He wanted Japan to surrender, so he thought that on August 6 he would provide the final push Tokyo needed. Nothing seemed to happen to Henry Stimson he had Harry Truman drop “Fat Man” on Nagasaki on August 9, which made Japan offered to surrender the next day.
The Pearl Harbor picture shows a dramatic scene of the USS Arizona ship being sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack, invaded by the Japanese Navy. This was a threat from the Japanese army, which resulted United States entry into World War II. The attack sank four U.S Navy battleships, including the ship in the following photo (the USS Arizona). The Japanese navy also sank/damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and killed 2,402 and wounded 1,282 U.S soldiers. Japanese planes dropped a 1,800-pound bomb, which smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona (shown in the photo). This ship sank and exploded
with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. After that, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma, with 400 sailors aboard.
with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. After that, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma, with 400 sailors aboard.