Did Two Atomic Bombs Really End the War in Japan?
In Did Two Atomic Bombs Really End the War in Japan?, historian Lucy Worsley learns how Harry S. Truman came to office in 1945. World War II had ended in Europe, but Americans were still fighting in Japan. The official story was that the two atomic bombs ended the war in Japan. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
Lesson Express
Q: Why did President Truman decide to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and do you think his decision was justified?
A: President Truman justified the bombings as a means to end the war quickly. [This can lead to a class discussion regarding the justification of this decision. Some may argue that ending the war saved lives and others may see the event as devastating because the bombs killed many people and caused suffering.]
Q: What were the immediate and long-term effects of the bombings on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
A: The immediate effects of the atomic bombings were massive destruction and devastating loss of life. The long-term effects included health problems and environmental damage, and the cities that were affected were left in ruins.
Q: How did the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki affect global attitudes toward nuclear weapons and warfare?
A: The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had a profound impact on global attitudes toward nuclear weapons. The immediate horror of the bombings, coupled with the suffering of the survivors, led to widespread fear. [This can lead to a class discussion about this event and current events.]
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In Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bombs and the End of World War II, host Andrew Marr describes how J. Robert Oppenheimer developed the technology to end World War II with two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombs were dropped, Oppenheimer calculated how to drop them to create the most damage. After the war was over, Oppenheimer felt conflicted about the creation of the bombs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s A History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bombs and the End of World War II, host Andrew Marr describes how J. Robert Oppenheimer developed the technology to end World War II with two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombs were dropped, Oppenheimer calculated how to drop them to create the most damage. After the war was over, Oppenheimer felt conflicted about the creation of the bombs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s A History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.