What event from WWII does this show? How useful is this picture in debating today’s key question?
Which of these images tells us more Which of these images tells us more about the effects of the atomic bomb?about the effects of the atomic bomb?
Drawing by Sawami Drawing by Sawami KatagiriKatagiri
Photograph taken days after the Photograph taken days after the Hiroshima bomb was dropped in Hiroshima bomb was dropped in
August 1945August 1945
Was America right to use atomic bombs to end WWI?
WWII in Colour
LOs
To identify arguments for and against the use of the atomic bombs
To reach a judgement on whether the US was justified in using them
Why did the US decide to Why did the US decide to drop the bomb?drop the bomb?
Pacific warPacific war Millions invested Millions invested
in developmentin development Growing threat Growing threat
from USSRfrom USSR Vengeance for Vengeance for
torture & suicide torture & suicide attacksattacks
What happened when the What happened when the bomb was dropped?bomb was dropped?
6 August 1945 Enola Gay 6 August 1945 Enola Gay dropped atomic bomb on dropped atomic bomb on HiroshimaHiroshima
70,000 immediate deaths70,000 immediate deaths 200,000+ deaths 200,000+ deaths
radiation and radiation and fall outfall out 9 August, Nagasaki9 August, Nagasaki
40,000 deaths40,000 deaths 14 August Japan 14 August Japan
surrenderssurrenders www.peace-www.peace-
museum.org/museum.org/welcome.htmwelcome.htm
What did the bombs look What did the bombs look like?like?‘Little Boy’ Uranium,
Hiroshima
‘Fat Man’, Plutonium, Nagasaki
How powerful were they?How powerful were they? ‘‘Fat Boy’ blast equivalent to 20,000Fat Boy’ blast equivalent to 20,000 tons of tons of
explosives detonated at onceexplosives detonated at once Strong winds from blast destroyed all buildings Strong winds from blast destroyed all buildings
within a 1.5 mile radiuswithin a 1.5 mile radius Heat generated incinerated everything in its Heat generated incinerated everything in its
pathpath
What was the impact?What was the impact?
Your taskYour task
Study the sources from, Study the sources from, ‘The Twentieth Century: A ‘The Twentieth Century: A World Study’ (p.50-1). World Study’ (p.50-1). Gather evidence that Gather evidence that Truman’s motives were Truman’s motives were acceptable and that is acceptable and that is motives were motives were questionable.questionable.Write a judgement, using Write a judgement, using 2 pieces of evidence to 2 pieces of evidence to support your answersupport your answerWhich piece of evidence Which piece of evidence most helped you reach a most helped you reach a decision? Explain your decision? Explain your answer.answer.
Harry S Truman, US President who approved the use of atomic
bombs in 1945
This house believes that the dropping of atomic bombs on
Japan was a necessary evil to end
WWII
ExtensionExtension Read the account of the Read the account of the
bombing of Hiroshima by bombing of Hiroshima by Kyoko Iwanaga on the BBC Kyoko Iwanaga on the BBC website. Summarise her story website. Summarise her story and explain whether her and explain whether her testimony has changed your testimony has changed your view from today’s lesson.view from today’s lesson.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/august/onthisday/hi/witness/august/9/9/newsid_4720000/4720807.stmnewsid_4720000/4720807.stm
Watch frozen in time
HomeworkHomework
Imagine you are President Truman. Imagine you are President Truman. Write a letter to the people of Japan Write a letter to the people of Japan explaining your decision to use the explaining your decision to use the atomic bomb. You must:atomic bomb. You must: Provide reasons why you think it was Provide reasons why you think it was
necessarynecessary Respond to criticisms people have madeRespond to criticisms people have made Express how you hope event will be a Express how you hope event will be a
force for good in the futureforce for good in the future
PlenaryPlenary
What can you remember about the What can you remember about the destructive power of the Bomb?destructive power of the Bomb?
3 reasons for using it on Japan3 reasons for using it on Japan 3 criticisms made about Truman3 criticisms made about Truman Your judgement?Your judgement? How might nuclear weapons have How might nuclear weapons have
made the world a safer place?made the world a safer place?