Was the Atom Bomb Necessary to End Wwii - High School History Day Project-

World War II was a global war and an important part of history. It involved the Allies and the Axis, and stretched across the war, involving many countries and went on for 6 years. It all started with the want for more land, resources, and power. In the end, it was ended with the dropping of 2 atomic bombs, "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" which I believe was necessary for many reasons. First off, it saved thousands of lives! Also, the Japanese was willing to fight until death; therefore it was the only way to restore peace! Finally, it is the surest method to end the war quickly. In my opinion, I believe that dropping the atomic bomb was necessary to end World War II.

Dropping the atomic bomb was necessary, and a good reason is that it would save thousands of American Citizens. As the war was growing, so was the number of casualties. Every island we gained, we lost many more troops. These numbers climbed high, even past the one million mark! In the article "July 1945: The Moment of Decision," it states, "US forces in world war II had already suffered more than one million casualties, including those killed, missing in action, and wounded. American prisoners of war in Japan were dying of starvation. Some had been tortured and others publicly executed" (Moment of Decision 17). The longer the war lasts, the more deaths occur, either from battle, starvation, or any other factor of the war. Even those captured have a high chance of death as well. This is a big reason for rushing the decision of releasing the bombs. It was decided that using the bomb would stop the casualties. In a Pro and Con Argument, it explained, "Using the atomic bomb on Japanese cities is the surest, most effective way to prevent further American casualties" (Pros/Cons 29). Everyone wanted a way to stop the death of Americans; they were willing to try everything. Nobody really discouraged it, Britain even approved of the use of atomic weapons. If the atomic bomb was not dropped, something else would have to be done! In the article "Push Ahead to a Final Victory," it was decided, "If we choose not to drop the atomic bombs, we should prepare for a full-scale invasion of Japan that will cost the lives of thousands of our fathers, sons, and brothers" (Push Ahead 28). If it was decided that the atomic bombs should not be dropped, thousands of troops would have to risk their life and most likely die to do the same job. This is one reason that dropping the bombs was necessary, but it did not only save many lives. Dropping the Atomic Bombs also restored peace.

The Japanese proved to be ruthless. They killed their prisoners and fought until death. This was discovered during World War II. Many of our casualties were because of their loyalty. In the article "The Moment of Decision," it states, "The battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima had resulted in