HIS501 4-2 Milestone

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1 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography 4-2 Final Project Milestone Two: Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography Hailey Herron HIS-501 Historiography Dr. Christopher Chan January 7, 2024

2 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography Thesis Statement The dropping of the atomic bomb is justifiable and unjustifiable because, the bombs helped end the already deadly war but, Japanese civilians had to suffer the consequences of this act of war. There is no definitive answer that the bombing was 100 percent justified or unjustified. Annotated Bibliography Bernstein, Barton J. “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.” Foreign Affairs 74, no. 1 (1995): 135–52. https://doi.org/10.2307/20047025 . Bernstein starts his article explaining that in 1941 the United States started the atomic bomb project (Manhattan Project). As the war drew on the the target of the bomb had shifted from Germany to Japan. By mid-1944, the landscape of the war had changed. Roosevelt and his top advisers knew that the likely target would now be Japan, for the war with Germany would undoubtedly end well before the A-bomb was expected to be ready, around the spring of 1945. 1 Roosevelt and his advisors had decided that the bomb was to be used and Japan was the target. However, Roosevelt did not see the day the bomb was use. dramatically demonstrated by the use of the atomic bomb. Truman, inheriting the project and trusting both Marshall and Stimson, would be even more vulnerable to such political pressures. And, like F.D.R., the new president easily assumed that the bomb should and would be used. 2 Bernstein did not have a set argument on wether or not the bomb was justifiably use. He used his article to provide the reasoning behind the bombing and how the American people felt about the bomb. Bernstein discussed that in the 1940’s Americans shared Trumans belief that the bombing was justified. However, when the government achieves were open that opinion changed. began to emerge about the use of the 1 Barton J. Bernstein, “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.” Foreign Affairs 74, no. 1 (1995): 136. 2 Bernstein, “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.” 139.

3 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography atomic bombs agains Japan. As the years passed, Americans learned that the bombs, according to high-level American military estimates in June and July 1945, probably could not have saved a half million American lives in the invasions, as Truman sometimes contended after Nagasaki, but would have saved fewer than 50,000. Americans also came slowly to recognize the barbarity of World War II, especially the mass killings by bombing civilians. 3 This source is significant to a historiography essay on the atomic bomb because, it provides information on why the bombing happened and how Americans felt about the bombing. Pape, Robert A. “Why Japan Surrendered.” International Security 18, no. 2 (1993): 154–201. https://doi.org/10.2307/2539100 . Pape’s argument is Japan surrendered after the dropping of the bombs because, of their military vulnerability. Japan's military position was so poor that its leaders would likely have surrendered before invasion, and at roughly the same time in August 1945, even if the United States had not employed strategic bombing or the atomic bomb. 4 Pape argued that the leaders of Japan knew they could not continue to hold their homeland and that is why the surrendered. He states that Japan would have surrendered even without the use of the bombs. Contrary to the assertion of the Strategic Bombing Survey that bombing was so effective that even if there had been no atomic bomb, Soviet attack, or planned American invasion, surrender would have occurred at nearly the same time, in actuality the naval blockade, invasion threat, and Soviet attack ensured that surrender would have occurred at precisely the same time even if there had been no strategic bombing campaign. 5 Even though Pape does not state that the bombing was unjustified, I do believe that his argument could fall into that category. He is arguing that Japan would have surrendered even without the use of the bombs. One part of his conclusion that leads 3 Bernstein, “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.” 151. 4 Robert A. Pape, “Why Japan Surrendered.” International Security 18, no. 2 (1993): 156. 5 Pape, “Why Japan Surrendered.” 199.

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4 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography me to believe his thoughts that the bombings were unjustified is, that the invasions of Luzon (January 1945) and Iwo Jima (February) were unnecessary, and that the thousands of lives lost in these operations could have been spared. 6 Alperovitz, Gar. “Hiroshima: Historians Reassess.” Foreign Policy, no. 99 (1995): 15–34. https://doi.org/10.2307/1149003 . Alperovitz argues that the bombings were unjustifiable and were not needed to end the war. He argues that those who defend the use of the do so because they do so because, they do not want to see the United States as vulnerable. To raise questions about Hiroshima is to raise doubts, it seems to some, about the moral integrity of the country and its leaders. It is also to raise the most profound questions about the legitimacy of nuclear weapons in general. 7 He states that Americans feel that criticizing Hiroshima is criticizing American serviceman. He claims this is unjustified to believe that the servicemen are being criticized. The Americans serving in the Pacific in 1945 were prepared to risk their lives for their nation; by this most fundamental test, they can only be called heroes. This is neither the first nor the last time, however, that those in the field were not informed of what was going on at higher levels. 8 Alperovitz argument will be useful for a historiography essay because, shows the argument of why the bombing was unjustified. Newman, Robert P. “Was Dropping These Bombs Morally Justified?” In Truman and the Hiroshima Cult, Michigan State University Press, 1995. 115–52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.14321/j.ctt7ztdqd.9 . This is a chapter in Newman’s book Truman and the Hiroshima Cult. Newman starts the chapter stating that the moral dilemma of dropping the bombs is unsolved for him. In the chapter 6 Pape, “Why Japan Surrender.” 200. 7 Gar Alperovitz, “Hiroshima: Historians Reassess.” Foreign Policy, no. 99 (1995). 34. 8 Alperovitz, “Hiroshima: Historians Reassess.” 34.

5 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography he describes how John Haynes Holmes, the Federal Council of Churches, and many moralists state, Truman's decision was clearly and unquestionably immoral. 9 Newman does not give his opinion on if the bombings were justified or not. However, he adds a quote at the end of the chapter that seems he finds it to be morally justified. There are no final answers to moral questions, as Michael Howard says: but Albert Einstein comes the closest: It should not be forgotten that the atomic bomb was made in this country as a preventive measure; it was to head off its use by the Germans, if they discovered it. The bombing of civilian centers was initiated by the Germans and adopted by the Japanese. To it the Allies responded in kind-as it turned out, with greater effectiveness-and they were morally justified in doing so. 10 This chapter will be using in a historiography because, it on the moral dilemma surrounding the atomic bomb. Yamane, Kazuyo. “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Beginning of the Nuclear Age.” Medicine and War 11, no. 3 (1995): 10–15. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45352470 . Yamane’s stand on the atomic bomb is that historical facts suggest the bomb was not necessary. According to the article Veteran’s groups and conservatives use the Smithsonian Enola Gay exhibition to justify and glorify the atomic bomb. Yamane states that Japan was ignored in its pleas for peace. The Japanese government made overtures for peace before the Potsdam Conference. They were ignored; Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed. 11 Japan was trying to end the war with discussion with Soviet Union, the United States and USSR did not consider the proposal. Yamane states that Churchill and Truman agreed on using the atomic weapons against Japan. 9 Robert P. Newman, “Was Dropping These Bombs Morally Justified?” 115. 10 Newman, “Was Dropping These Bombs Morally Justified?” 152. 11 Kazuyo Yamane, “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Beginning of the Nuclear Age.” 10.

6 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography Walker, J. Samuel. “Recent Literature on Truman’s Atomic Bomb Decision: A Search for Middle Ground.” Diplomatic History 29, no. 2 (2005): 311–34. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24914852 . In the article Walker explains the opinion of the traditional interpretation and the revisionist interpretation of the atomic bomb. Traditional viewpoint is that the bomb was necessary to avoid an invasion of Japan and a huge loss of American lives. The revisionist viewpoint is that the bombing was not necessary, and Japan was on the verge of defeat and surrender. However, Walker uses his article to focus on the middle ground viewpoint of the use of the bomb. Although those who occupied the middle ground generally agreed with the traditionalist position that Truman used the bomb primarily to shorten the war and save American lives, they rejected the argument that the president faced a stark choice between the bomb and an invasion. They suggested, with varying degrees of certitude, that the war was likely to have ended before an invasion became necessary. 12 He states that the the debate cannot definitively be resolved because it requires speculation and incomplete evidence. His stand on the debate is that a middle-ground position is much needed. …by demonstrating serious deficiencies in both the traditionalist and revisionist positions, they provided new perspectives and much-needed correctives to the oversimplified and uncompromising formulas that framed much of the scholarly and popular debate during and after the mid-1990s. 13 Walker's opinion will be good to show a different stand on the bombing other than justified or unjustified. Kort, Michael. “The Debate Over Hiroshima.” In The Columbia Guide to Hiroshima and the Bomb, Columbia University Press, 2007. 3-13. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/kort13016.5 . 12 Samuel J. Walker, “Recent Literature on Truman’s Atomic Bomb Decision: A Search for Middle Ground.” 333. 13 Walker, 334.

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7 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography In this Chapter Kort does not state his opinion on the debate of Hiroshima. However, he tells the historiography of Hiroshima. Notwithstanding some early critical voices, the historiography of the bombing of Hiroshima originally was dominated by commentators who argued that the bomb’s use was militarily and morally justified, a viewpoint that over time has become known as the “orthodox” position on this issue. 14 Kort states that the first revisionism view of the atomic bomb first emerged in 1946. Revisionists criticize the use of the atomic bomb in Japan. I believe Kort is providing valuable information for a historiography essay in showing an unbiased chapter on the debate of the atomic bombs. Van de Velde, James R. “Opinion: The Enola Gay Saved Lives.” Political Science Quarterly 110, no. 3 (1995): 453–59. https://doi.org/10.2307/2152574 . Van de Velde’s argument on the atomic bomb is that it did save lives. He argues that the viewpoint that the Japanese would have surrendered without the use of the bombs is irresponsible guesswork. Van de Velde states, “The bomb provided a means for obtaining the emotional and political goal of unconditional surrender. There is nothing sinister, conspiratorial, or particularly evil about that. 15 He believes that the bombs were not only necessary but, they saved life’s and helped hasten the end of this terrible war’s end-and that was unambiguously good. 16 Van de Velde provides a valuable traditionalist view on the atomic bomb for a historiography essay. 14 Michael Kort, “The Debate Over Hiroshima.” 8. 15 James R. Van de Velde, “Opinion: The Enola Gay Saved Lives.” 456. 16 Van de Velde, 459.

8 Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography Bibliography Alperovitz, Gar. “Hiroshima: Historians Reassess.” Foreign Policy, no. 99 (1995): 15–34. https://doi.org/10.2307/1149003 . Bernstein, Barton J. “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.” Foreign Affairs 74, no. 1 (1995): 135–52. https://doi.org/10.2307/20047025 . Kort, Michael. “The Debate Over Hiroshima.” In The Columbia Guide to Hiroshima and the Bomb, Columbia University Press, 2007. 3-13. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/kort13016.5 . Newman, Robert P. “Was Dropping These Bombs Morally Justified?” In Truman and the Hiroshima Cult, Michigan State University Press, 1995. 115–52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.14321/j.ctt7ztdqd.9 . Pape, Robert A. “Why Japan Surrendered.” International Security 18, no. 2 (1993): 154–201. https://doi.org/10.2307/2539100 . Walker, J. Samuel. “Recent Literature on Truman’s Atomic Bomb Decision: A Search for Middle Ground.” Diplomatic History 29, no. 2 (2005): 311–34. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24914852 . Yamane, Kazuyo. “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Beginning of the Nuclear Age.” Medicine and War 11, no. 3 (1995): 10–15. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45352470 . Van de Velde, James R. “Opinion: The Enola Gay Saved Lives.” Political Science Quarterly 110, no. 3 (1995): 453–59. https://doi.org/10.2307/2152574 .

HIS501 4-2 Milestone

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