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The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The End of a War, the Dawn of an Age Noah Adams Junior Division Historical Paper 2,497 Words

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Page 1: The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The End of …...superpowers. Thus, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a triumph in that it ended World War II, but also

The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki:

The End of a War, the Dawn of an Age

Noah Adams

Junior Division

Historical Paper

2,497 Words

Page 2: The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The End of …...superpowers. Thus, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a triumph in that it ended World War II, but also

World War II was by far the bloodiest war in human history, resulting in over 15

million military deaths and over 45 million civilian casualties. This devastating war 1

lasted from 1939 to 1945 and involved all of the major military powers of the time, 2

divided into the Allied and Axis powers. The Allied powers consisted of the United

States, Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union, while the Axis powers included

Germany, Italy, and Japan. Near the end of the conflict, the world grew tired of the 3

fighting. Because of this, it was a relief to many when Germany finally surrendered to

the Allied powers on May 7, 1945. This meant that Japan was the only remaining 4

nation continuing to oppose the Allies, but yet they chose not to surrender. Two months

after the Germans had surrendered, the Allied powers gathered once more at an event

known as the Potsdam Conference to discuss Japan’s commitment to continuing the

war and what the Allies should do about it. Eventually, the Allies drafted the Potsdam

Declaration, which demanded that Japan unconditionally surrendered the war, and

promised “prompt and utter destruction” if they refused to comply with the stated

demands. The Allies were forced to carry this promise through when Japan denied the 5

declaration, and the United States proceeded to detonate the world’s first two atomic

1 "Research Starters: Worldwide Deaths in World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans." Home | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <http://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/research-starters-worldwide-deaths-world-war>. 2 Royde-Smith, John Graham and Thomas Hughes. "World War II." Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II>. 3 "Allies and Axis: Who’s Who in WWII?." The National WWII Museum. 14 Dec 2011. Web. 18 Feb 2019. <http://www.nww2m.com/2011/12/allies-and-axis-whos-who-in-wwii/>. 4 "Surrender of Germany (1945)." Ourdocuments.gov. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=78#>. 5 "Draft of the Potsdam Declaration from President Harry S. Truman to Ambassador Patrick J. Hurley for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, July 23, 1945. Naval Aide Files - Berlin Conference File.." Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. 26 Jul 1945. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/naval/berlin/index.php?documentVersion=original&documentid=hst-naval_naid1701729-04&pagenumber=3>.

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bombs over two different Japanese cities. The first atomic bomb was dropped over

Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, by an American B-29 Superfortress aircraft known as the

Enola Gay (see Appendix A), and the second over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, by a 6

different B-29 known as the Bockscar. Following these attacks, the Japanese 7

government decided that it would not be wise to continue the fight, and so they

surrendered to the Allied powers on September 2, 1945, bringing an official end to

World War II. During the two atomic bombings of Japan, over 130,000 people lost their 8

lives, and the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated. However, the effects 9

of the bombings extended far past the cities themselves. The atomic bombs detonated

over Japan in August of 1945 also sparked an arms race between the United States

and the Soviet Union that came to be known as the Cold War. This conflict lasted for

over 40 years and left many people fearing a nuclear war that seemed to be growing

ever more likely. As a result of these fears, anti-nuclear organizations were formed. 10

These organizations believed that the development of nuclear weapons and technology

should be banned to prevent a nuclear war from breaking out. In essence, the 11

bombings of Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a huge short-term triumph

for the Allied powers because it resulted in the official end of World War II, meaning that

6 Enola Gay. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/115_2726550/1/115_2726550/cite. Accessed 31 Jan 2019. 7 "Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 1945." Atomic Heritage Foundation. 5 Jun 2014. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bombings-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-1945>. 8 "Japan Surrenders." History. Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders>. 9 "Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 1945." Atomic Heritage Foundation. 10 "The Cold War." John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Web. 30 Jan 2019. <https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-cold-war>. 11 Rothwell, Susan. "Antinuclear Movement." Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 29 Jan 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/anti-nuclear-movement>.

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a costly full-scale invasion of Japan would not be necessary to bring an end to the war.

However, the bombs tragically took over 100,000 Japanese lives, and the use of the

bombs resulted in the Cold War conflict between the United States and Soviet Union

superpowers. Thus, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a triumph in

that it ended World War II, but also caused many deaths, contributed to the start of the

Cold War, and brought about the dawn of a tragic new era of humanity: the Atomic Age.

12

The two atomic bombs detonated over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were

devastating, killing between 90,000-166,000 people at Hiroshima and an additional

40,000-75,000 people at Nagasaki. Many other people who were not killed by the 13

initial blast were also greatly injured by the bombings. For example, many people

suffered greatly from radiation poisoning due to the large amount of radiation released

by the explosions. Radiation poisoning from the bombings resulted in many spots on 14

the victim’s skin similar to burns, as well as large welts appearing on the skin (see 15

Appendix B). The amount of deaths and injuries caused by the bombs is not terribly

surprising, however, when it is taken into account that the atomic bomb dropped over

Hiroshima held explosive power equivalent to 20,000 tons of trinitrotoluene(TNT), as

was stated in a press release from the White House sixteen hours after the bomb was

12 "The Atomic Age: The Discovery and Evolution of Nuclear Science." The Atomic Age. Web. 31 Jan 2019. <https://atomic.lindahall.org/about.html>. 13 "Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 1945." Atomic Heritage Foundation. 14 "Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Atomic Heritage Foundation. 27 Jul 2017. Web. 31 Jan 2019. <https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/survivors-hiroshima-and-nagasaki>. 15 Hiroshima Victim. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/115_2740020/1/115_2740020/cite. Accessed 31 Jan 2019.

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detonated over the city. The bomb dropped at Nagasaki was of similar power to the 16

one used in Hiroshima, and therefore caused a similar amount of damage. This colossal

quantity of explosive power contributed massively to the damages dealt to the city, and

both cities were left in ruins from the attacks. One survivor of the bomb detonation at

Hiroshima, Dr. Michihiko Hachiya, described that “one thing was common to everyone I

saw-complete silence. All who could were moving in the direction of the hospital.” 17

However, many people found that the hospitals that they sought were damaged and

dysfunctional, if not completely obliterated. Many buildings in Hiroshima were severely

damaged in the bombings, and the damage was tremendous (see Appendix C). The 18

damages at Nagasaki were similar, destroying a great deal of the city (see Appendix 19

D). These lost lives and damages dealt to the city had a major impact on the Japanese

government and the Japanese people, as the morale of soldiers was greatly reduced

and much of the desire of the Japanese people to keep up the war was completely

eradicated. Thus, the bombing of Japan ultimately resulted in the decision by the

Japanese to surrender the war due to lack of public support and fear of destruction.

Upon learning of the destruction that had commenced at Hiroshima on August 6,

1945, Emperor Hirohito and the Japanese government convened to discuss their

16 "Press release by the White House, August 6, 1945. Ayers Papers, Subject File. Army U. S., Press releases, the atomic bomb and atomic energy.." Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. 6 Aug 1945. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/index.php?documentid=59&pagenumber=1>. 17 Hachiya, Michihiko. "The Bombing of Hiroshima, 1945." EyeWitness to History.com. 1955. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/hiroshima.htm>. 18 "World War II, Bombing, Japan, Hiroshima. [photograph]." Smithsonian Institution. 1945. Web. 21 Jan 2019.<http://collections.si.edu/search/detail/edanmdm:siris_arc_383915?q=edanmdm%3Asiris_arc_383915&record=1&hlterm=edanmdm%3Asiris_arc_383915&inline=true>. 19 Nagasaki Bombed. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/115_2730494/1/115_2730494/cite. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

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options for the nation, one of which being surrendering to the Allied powers. The

emperor was strongly of the belief that Japan should surrender to the Allies to prevent

any further attacks on his nation, however eventually they decided that the Japanese

would wait to see if the Soviet Union would provide them with assistance in their military

struggle. This hope was swiftly dashed, however, when the Soviet Union declared war

on Japan on August 8, 1945, and hope of continuing the fight was all but lost when

Nagasaki was bombed the following day. When the war council was once again brought

together, the vote on whether to surrender or not was a tie, until Emperor Hirohito

himself stepped up and voted for Japan to surrender the war. Finally, after many long 20

years of fighting, World War II was to come to an end. Emperor Hirohito recorded a

message to be broadcast to the Japanese public on August 15, 1945, announcing the

surrender of Japan. This was monumentally important to the Japanese people, as it

marked the first time Hirohito had spoken to the public, despite that the broadcast was

only a prerecorded message. This surrender announcement was followed by the 21

official surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. That day, over 250 Allied warships

sat anchored in Tokyo Bay in Japan, where the surrender was officialized. Aboard the

decks of the USS Missouri, the flags of the United States, Great Britain, China, and the

Soviet Union were flown, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed. The 22

Japanese Instrument of Surrender commanded “all Japanese forces wherever situated

20 "Japan Surrenders, August 10-15, 1945." The Manhattan Project: an Interactive History. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945/surrender.htm>. 21 "Hirohito Speech." World War II. Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.worldwarii.org/p/jewel-voice-broadcast-was-radio.html>. 22 "Japan Surrenders." History.

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and the Japanese people to cease hostilities” and finalized “the unconditional surrender

to the Allied powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters.” This surrender 23

was heard of all around the world, and in many places even celebrated, which can be

seen in a photograph of a group of American soldiers who held up newspapers with

headlines describing the recent Japanese surrender. (see Appendix E). 24

In essence, the use of the first American atomic bombs against Japanese cities

Hiroshima and Nagasaki played a hugely significant role in ending World War II, but yet

it was only one of the many major impacts of the bombs used to coerce Japan into

surrender. This event marked the first time in history that atomic bombs had been used

in warfare, and the knowledge that atomic bombs with extremely devastating power

could be created spread across the world rapidly. This quickly initiated an arms race

mainly between the United States and the Soviet Union to develop more advanced and

powerful nuclear weapons than the other nation before a nuclear war began. This

conflict was known as the Cold War, despite that no battles were fought during the

entire 45 years that the war lasted. The United States and the Soviet Union continued 25

to develop more nuclear weapons that contained greater power throughout the war, and

many people in the United States and around the world began to fear that a nuclear war

was coming. This fear was heightened by the knowledge that the Soviet Union had

successfully tested their first atomic weapon in 1949, meaning that the United States

23 "Instrument of Surrender." DocsTeach. 2 Sep 1945. Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/instrument-surrender>. 24 Japanese Surrender /jubilant GIs, 1945.. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/109_145585/1/109_145585/cite. Accessed 23 Jan 2019. 25 "The Cold War Erupts." U.S. History. Ushistory.org, Web. 24 Jan 2019. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/52a.asp>.

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was no longer the only nation to be in possession of atomic bombs. The fear that the 26

Soviet Union may initiate nuclear attacks on the United States led to the creation of

protective shelters for use in case of an atomic bombing. Additionally, nuclear bomb

drills in schools and the workplace became frequent in an attempt to be better prepared

for a nuclear strike should one come, although many of the drills were simply intended

to provide a peace of mind to the public and would not actually protect them against a

nuclear explosion. Precautions were taken throughout the entirety of the Cold War to 27

stay as safe as possible during a nuclear attack, although none ever came. Eventually,

the Cold War was ended through the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe , but it still 28

has many significant impacts on the world today, decades after the war was concluded.

The United States spent trillions of dollars on weapons and military defenses , a 29

significant sum of money that ended up not being used in the war. Furthermore, the

fears of nuclear warfare that were established during the Cold War are still present

today, if to a somewhat lesser degree. The impacts that the Cold War had on the world

are undeniably important, and had the United States failed to develop or use an atomic

bomb before the end of World War II, the arms race between the United States and the

Soviet Union would have been virtually nonexistent. Thus, the bombing of Hiroshima

26 "Cold War: International Politics." Encyclopædia Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul 1998. Web. 24 Jan 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War>. 27 "Atomic Fears and the Arms Race." Khan Academy. Khan Academy, Web. 24 Jan 2019. <https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1950s-america/a/atomic-fears-and-the-arms-race>. 28 "The End of the Cold War [ushistory.org]." US History.Ushistory.org, Web. 25 Jan 2019. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/59e.asp>. 29 Ibid.

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and Nagasaki not only ended the extremely significant and deadly World War II, but it

also resulted in the beginning of the Cold War.

Since the first use of atomic bombs against Japan at the end of World War II,

many organizations have formed to oppose the development of nuclear technology,

more specifically nuclear weapons. These organizations believe that the development of

more powerful atomic weapons will only result in more destruction and death should

another war come about, and therefore production and possession of nuclear weapons

should be completely prohibited. One such organization is the Bulletin of the Atomic

Scientists. According to the mission statement listed on their website, “The Bulletin of 30

the Atomic Scientists believes that advances in science and technology should make

life on earth better, not worse.” The organization was founded in 1945 by a few of the 31

scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project who wanted to raise awareness about

the devastating power of nuclear weapons they had helped to create. This 32

organization represents the oldest of several anti-nuclear organizations that have

formed as a result of the atomic bombs detonated over Japan and the fear caused

during the Cold War. Starting around the year 1950, opposition to the development of

nuclear technology rapidly increased as fear of nuclear war heightened, and people

began to further desire an end to nuclear weapons testing. As the Soviet Union and the

United States continued developing larger and more powerful nuclear weapons

throughout the 1950s, anti-nuclear activists finally began to have an impact on nuclear

30 "Mission and History." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Web. 25 Jan 2019. <https://thebulletin.org/about-us/mission-and-history/>. 31 Ibid. 32 Ibid.

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weapons development as treaties and agreements were created and signed to limit the

testing of nuclear weapons. The first of the agreements involving nuclear technologies 33

was the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963, which was agreed upon and signed by the

United States and the Soviet Union. This nuclear weapons test ban prohibited the

testing of nuclear weapons or the creation of any nuclear explosion in the atmosphere,

in outer space, and underwater. Although this treaty still allowed testing underground, 34

it helped to significantly slow down the very rapid development of nuclear weapons at

the time. The rise of anti-nuclear organizations such as the Bulletin of the Atomic 35

Scientists were a direct result of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in

early August, 1945, and as a result of the efforts of these organizations and the efforts

of the public, the development of nuclear weapons was slowed dramatically in several

countries around the globe.

On August 6, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was detonated over the

Japanese city of Hiroshima, followed by a second being dropped over the Japanese city

of Nagasaki on August 9, only three days after the first nuclear attack. After the 36

bombings, the Japanese government felt that it would be futile, even foolish, to continue

their fight against the Allied powers , and so they conceded the war to the Allies on 37

33 Rubinson, Paul. "The American Antinuclear Movement." Oxford Research Encyclopedias: American History. Apr 2016. Web. 28 Jan 2019. <http://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-26>. 34 "Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water." U.S. Department of State.Web. 28 Jan 2019. <https://www.state.gov/t/isn/4797.htm>. 35 Kimball, Daryl and Wade Boese. "Limited Test Ban Treaty Turns 40." Arms Control Association. 1 Oct 2003. Web. 29 Jan 2019. <https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2003_10/LTBT>. 36 "The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." AtomCentral.com.Web. 29 Jan 2019. <http://www.atomcentral.com/hiroshima-nagasaki.aspx>. 37 "Japan Surrenders, August 10-15, 1945." The Manhattan Project: an Interactive History.

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September 2, 1945, thus officially bringing an end to the bloodiest war in recorded

human history. However, over 130,000 people were killed in both of the bombings, 38 39

and significant damage was dealt to both cities, as can be seen in a photograph

showing the aerial view of the city of Hiroshima taken after the bombing (see Appendix 40

F). As another result of the detonation of the atomic bombs, an arms race that came to

be known as the Cold War was sparked between the United States of America and the

Soviet Union, a war that would last for over 40 years and inspire fear of a nuclear war in

many people around the world. Finally, as a result of the bombings and the Cold War, 41

anti-nuclear organizations and movements were founded, organizations with the belief

that nuclear weapons and technology should be prohibited in an effort to prevent the

world from entering into a destructive nuclear war. All in all, the bombings of Japanese 42

cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a massive triumph for the Allied powers, and the

world as a whole, because it resulted in the end of World War II. This meant that the

fighting would finally cease, and an invasion into the Japanese homeland would not be

necessary to bring an end to the war. However, despite this triumph, the bombs

tragically took over 100,000 Japanese lives, and the detonation of the atomic bombs

contributed to the start of the Cold War, a conflict between the United States and Soviet

Union. Thus, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought a triumphant end

38 "Japan Surrenders." History. 39 "Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 1945." 40 Aerial View of Hiroshima aft.Atomic Bomb. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. Accessed 29 Jan 2019. <quest.eb.com/search/109_136445/1/109_136445/cite>. Accessed 29 Jan 2019 41 "The Cold War." John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 42 Rothwell, Susan. "Antinuclear Movement." Encyclopædia Britannica.

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to World War II, but also brought about the dawn of a new era of humanity: the Atomic

Age. 43

43 "The Atomic Age: The Discovery and Evolution of Nuclear Science." The Atomic Age. Web. 31 Jan 2019. <https://atomic.lindahall.org/about.html>.

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Appendix A

Enola Gay. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/115_2726550/1/115_2726550/cite. Accessed 31 Jan 2019.

The American B-29 Superfortress aircraft called the Enola Gay was the aircraft

chosen to drop the atomic bomb over Hiroshima. This airplane was accompanied by

several others in its mission in Japan.

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Appendix B

Hiroshima Victim. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/115_2740020/1/115_2740020/cite. Accessed 31 Jan 2019.

Many victims of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who were not killed

immediately by the explosions suffered from severe radiation poisoning, which left large

welts on the victims’ skin.

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Appendix C

"World War II, Bombing, Japan, Hiroshima. [photograph]." Smithsonian Institution. 1945. Web.21

Jan2019.<http://collections.si.edu/search/detail/edanmdm:siris_arc_383915?q=edanmdm%3Asiris_arc_383915&record=1&hlterm=edanmdm%3Asiris_arc_383915&inline=true>.

The city of Hiroshima was hugely devastated by the atomic bomb detonated

within it. Many buildings were completely reduced to rubble, and people were left

without places to go after the bomb exploded.

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Appendix D

Nagasaki Bombed. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/115_2730494/1/115_2730494/cite. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.

Although the location at which the bomb was dropped shielded parts of Nagasaki

from the blast, much of the city was destroyed by the atomic bomb used on it. Similarly

to the damage at Hiroshima, many important structures in Nagasaki were completely

obliterated.

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Appendix E

Japanese Surrender /jubilant GIs, 1945.. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/109_145585/1/109_145585/cite. Accessed 23

Jan 2019.

Citizens and soldiers of the United States were extremely excited to hear that the

Japanese had finally surrendered. Many Americans celebrated the victory in the war in

the days following the surrender.

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Appendix F

Aerial View of Hiroshima aft.Atomic Bomb. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. Accessed 29 Jan 2019.

<quest.eb.com/search/109_136445/1/109_136445/cite>. Accessed 29 Jan 2019

An aerial view of Hiroshima after the attack was carried out shows just how much

devastation was caused by the bomb, and how the damage varies from the areas near

the epicenter of the blast to the outer edges of the explosion.

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Bibliography

Primary Sources

"Draft of the Potsdam Declaration from President Harry S. Truman to Ambassador Patrick J. Hurley for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, July 23, 1945. Naval Aide Files - Berlin Conference File.." Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. 26 Jul 1945. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/naval/berlin/index.php?documentVersion=original&documentid=hst-naval_naid1701729-04&pagenumber=3>.

This draft of the Potsdam Declaration, which was drafted at the Potsdam

Conference approximately 2 months after the surrender of Germany, demanded that

Japan surrendered to the Allied powers or face destruction.

Hachiya, Michihiko. "The Bombing of Hiroshima, 1945." EyeWitness to History.com. 1955. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/hiroshima.htm>.

This is a section of the published diary of Dr. Michihiko Hachiya, a victim and

survivor of the atomic bomb dropped and detonated over Hiroshima, Japan. His diary

describes the horrors that he and other victims had to endure through at the time of the

bombing and in the hours that followed.

18

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"Hirohito Speech." World War II. Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.worldwarii.org/p/jewel-voice-broadcast-was-radio.html>.

Emperor Hirohito’s announcement to the public that Japan would surrender

World War II was the first time the emperor had spoken to the public, making this

speech a very important one for Japan.

"Instrument of Surrender." DocsTeach. 2 Sep 1945. Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/instrument-surrender>.

The Japanese Instrument of Surrender is the document that was signed aboard

the American battleship the USS Missouri, and is the document that officialized Japan’s

surrender of World War II to the Allied powers.

"Press release by the White House, August 6, 1945. Ayers Papers, Subject File. Army U. S., Press releases, the atomic bomb and atomic energy.." Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. 6 Aug 1945. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/index.php?documentid=59&pagenumber=1>.

This press release by the White House was intended to inform the public about

the devastation that the United States had caused in Japan, and the impact that it would

have on the war. Information about the bombs themselves is included in the press

release.

19

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"Surrender of Germany (1945)." Ourdocuments.gov. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=78#>.

The German Act of Military Surrender is the document that saw Germany

officially surrender their part of the war to the Allied powers. The document was signed

on May 7, 1945, by Germany and the Allies.

"Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water." U.S. Department of State.Web. 28 Jan 2019. <https://www.state.gov/t/isn/4797.htm>.

The Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963 was the first step in a journey to reducing

the potential for a nuclear war between many superpowers. The treaty was originally

signed by the United States and the Soviet Union, but has since been signed by many

more nations.

Secondary Sources

"Allies and Axis: Who’s Who in WWII?." The National WWII Museum. 14 Dec 2011. Web. 18 Feb 2019. <http://www.nww2m.com/2011/12/allies-and-axis-whos-who-in-wwii/>.

This page by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans is a useful

resource, as it lists the members of the Allied and Axis powers, as well as the leaders of

those nations. Additionally, this source provides information about the purposes of each

alliance.

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"The Atomic Age: The Discovery and Evolution of Nuclear Science." The Atomic Age. Web. 31 Jan 2019. <https://atomic.lindahall.org/about.html>.

This website page is focused on the detailing of the Atomic Age, from how the

Atomic Age came to a start to how it impacted the course of the Cold War and the

development of nuclear technology.

"Atomic Fears and the Arms Race." Khan Academy. Khan Academy, Web. 24 Jan 2019. <https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1950s-america/a/atomic-fears-and-the-arms-race>.

This article describes some events of the Cold War, as well as the rise of

anti-nuclear movements and how the United States attempted to calm the minds of

citizens as fear of nuclear war was high.

"The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." AtomCentral.com.Web. 29 Jan 2019. <http://www.atomcentral.com/hiroshima-nagasaki.aspx>.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, was a complicated thing, and

this source provides more information about some of the finer details of the attack.

"Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 1945." Atomic Heritage Foundation. 5 Jun 2014. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bombings-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-1945>.

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Many people were in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to witness the

moment when the atomic bomb exploded, and this source provides quotes from some

of those people as well as important information regarding the bombings.

"The Cold War Erupts." U.S. History. Ushistory.org, Web. 24 Jan 2019

<http://www.ushistory.org/us/52a.asp>

At the start of the Cold War, many old alliances were broken, and the arms race

between the United States and the Soviet Union quickly intensified. This information is

covered in this source.

"Cold War: International Politics." Encyclopædia Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul 1998. Web. 24 Jan 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War>.

An extensive source including information about the events prior to the Cold War

and those that occurred during this major conflict between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R..

"The Cold War." John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Web. 30 Jan 2019. <https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-cold-war>.

This article from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library goes into depth about

the events and people associated with the Cold War and how they impacted the course

of the war.

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"The End of the Cold War [ushistory.org]." US History.Ushistory.org, Web. 25 Jan 2019. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/59e.asp>.

When Mikhail Gorbachev attained the role of dictator of the Soviet Union in 1985,

he made major changes and implemented his own ideas about freedom that greatly

changed the world and helped to end the Cold War.

"Japan Surrenders, August 10-15, 1945." The Manhattan Project: an Interactive History. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945/surrender.htm>.

Leading up to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many large events such

as the Potsdam Conference occurred, and this source covers those as well as the

reaction of the Japanese government to the bombings.

"Japan Surrenders." History. Web. 23 Jan 2019. <https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders>.

Japan surrendered World War II to the Allied powers on September 2, 1945,

aboard the battleship USS Missouri, and all information related to said surrender can be

found in this source.

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Kimball, Daryl and Wade Boese. "Limited Test Ban Treaty Turns 40." Arms Control Association. 1 Oct 2003. Web. 29 Jan 2019. <https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2003_10/LTBT>.

This source provides significant information about the Limited Test Ban Treaty

and how it came to be created and signed by the United States and the Soviet Union.

"Mission and History." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Web. 25 Jan 2019. <https://thebulletin.org/about-us/mission-and-history/>.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists organization was founded in 1945, soon

after the atomic bombings of Japan. This is simply the organization’s mission statement,

as well as some history on the organization’s origins.

"Research Starters: Worldwide Deaths in World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans." Home | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <http://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/research-starters-worldwide-deaths-world-war>.

Millions of people died over the course of World War II, and those people were of

many different nations. This website provides the number of casualties of each nation

involved in World War II.

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Rothwell, Susan. "Antinuclear Movement." Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 29 Jan 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/anti-nuclear-movement>.

This source details how the anti-nuclear movement began, how it changed over

the course of the Cold War, and how it lost momentum towards the end of the conflict.

Royde-Smith, John Graham and Thomas Hughes. "World War II." Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 21 Jan 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II>.

This encyclopedia entry contains an abundance of information about World War

II, from Hitler’s rise to power to the eventual atomic bombing of Japanese cities

Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Rubinson, Paul. "The American Antinuclear Movement." Oxford Research Encyclopedias: American History. Apr 2016. Web. 28 Jan 2019. <http://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-26>.

This article describes the different stages of the “American Anti-nuclear

Movement,” and how they varied from decade to decade, including how these

movements resulted in the creation of nuclear weapons test ban treaties.

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"Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Atomic Heritage Foundation. 27 Jul 2017. Web. 31 Jan 2019. <https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/survivors-hiroshima-and-nagasaki>.

This source includes many important details about the bombings of Hiroshima

and Nagasaki, including information about the bombs themselves, some short-term

impacts of the explosions, and a few long-term ones.

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