[Scan of press release]. Retrieved March 05, 2011, from:
http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=1945-08-06&documentid=59&studycollectionid=abomb&pagenumber=1
This document is the initial press release from Truman after his decision to release the atomic bomb. The document states Truman's intentions and the power of the new nuclear technology America just discovered. Truman's intentions are stated, and it is stated that the bomb was intended to be used to force Japan's surrender. However, Truman neglected to research or heed warnings of the bomb's devastating side effects, shown on the next page of the blog titled "The Devastation."
 | ||
[Letter from Truman to Cavert]. Retrieved March 05, 2011, from:http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb /large/documents/index.php?documentdate=1945-08-11&documentid=11&studycollectionid=abomb&pagenumber=1 This document is a reply written by Truman regarding the dropping of the bombs. It shows Truman's justification for dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. However, Truman's justification is not enough. The Pearl Harbor attack resulted in the loss of about 2350 lives, while the combined effects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings resulted in the estimated deaths of over 225000 innocent Japanese lives.   [Letter from Russell to Truman]. Retrieved March 05, 2011, from:http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/B04_04-03_02.jpg This telegram from Richard Russell to Truman explains Russell's urge to use complete, unforgiving force to make Japan surrender unconditionally and by America's terms. While it was ultimately Truman's decision to release the bombs, there were other people who were also urging him to make the decision, this document is an example of one of the supporters. Although many people were pushing for the use of the bombs, not every account had been taken into consideration; the effects of radiation had a huge portion of the total death toll, whether or not Truman truly intended that many deaths is unknown. However, Truman should not have succumbed to the pressure of using the bombs. |
