Was the decision to drop the atomic bombs on japan good or bad?

Answer 1

WW2 was the world's last TOTAL WAR. Total war meaning fought to win with any weapons available (minus Chemical Weapons by treaty signed after WW1). The Atomic Bombings brought man into the atomic age (1945). Without the bombings there would have been no Cold War, no Atomic Age, no end to WW2 without millions of more deaths (for both sides). Only one nation had atomic weapons at the time of the atomic bombings; so it was a good idea. If other nations had the "bomb" it would have been a bad idea. Then it would have been a nuclear war. Such as it was when the Soviets (Russians) tested their first atomic bomb in 1949. Atomic Weapons created a COLD WAR (A stand-off between atomic armed countries). Total wars CANNOT be fought any longer without risking total destruction to both sides, referred to as, "Mutually Assured Destruction" during the cold war (1945-1990). Only conventional wars, not involving NUCLEAR WEAPONS (called "Limited Wars") could be safely fought during the cold war.

Answer 2

That is subject to debate. The prevailing school of thought was that the use of the first nuclear weapon would force Japan to surrender. Doing so would result in the avoidance of the US invading mainland Japan and sparing millions of Japanese soldiers, civilians, and American soldiers lives.

The resulting use of nuclear weapons killed roughtly 500k people.

Answer 3

Most people think that it was a good idea. Most Americans wanted revenge. IMO, Most people think that it was a good idea because it saved millions of lives, more Japanese than American. Most Americans just wanted the War to end. DLW

Answer 4

Depends on who your are asking. For example now a days activists are saying how cruel the US was by dropping those bombs. Back in the days of the suffering by the war, everyone was glad for those bombs that put and end to the war.

Answer 5

a good idea. They bombed us first ya know.