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WWII Atomic Bombs
Reasons for, and significance of, US use of atomic weapons against Japan
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why did the U.S. consider using atomic bombs on Japan? | Japan refused to surrender unconditionally despite devastating firebombing; U.S. wanted to avoid a costly land invasion. |
| What cultural belief influenced Japan’s resistance to surrender? | It was considered honorable to die in battle and dishonorable to surrender. |
| What were the effects of the firebombing of Tokyo? | Tens of thousands died, 25% of buildings destroyed, over a million homeless—yet Japan still didn’t surrender. |
| What was the Japanese defense plan against U.S. invasion? | Ketsu Go – Civilians, including children, were trained to resist Allied invasion forces. |
| What was “Operation Downfall”? | The planned U.S. invasion of Japan, projected to cause over a million American casualties. |
| Why didn’t Truman opt for a demonstration of the atomic bomb? | He believed Japan still wouldn’t surrender after just a demonstration. |
| What did the U.S. issue on July 26, 1945? | A final warning demanding unconditional surrender or facing "prompt and utter destruction." |
| What was the Manhattan Project? | A secret U.S. project (1942–45) to develop atomic weapons; employed 130,000 people. |
| What was the Trinity Test? | The first test of a nuclear bomb, marking the success of the Manhattan Project. |
| What were the two atomic bombs called? | “Little Boy” (Hiroshima, uranium) and “Fat Man” (Nagasaki, plutonium). |
| What happened to the USS Indianapolis? | Delivered components of "Little Boy" to Tinian Island, then was sunk by a Japanese sub on July 30, 1945. |
| Why was Hiroshima chosen as the first target? | It was a military supply base, had strategic value, and was free of cloud cover. |
| What was the name of the plane that dropped the Hiroshima bomb? | The Enola Gay. |
| What was the original target for the second bomb? Why was it changed? | Kokura, but due to cloud cover, Nagasaki was bombed instead. |
| What was the death toll in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? | Hiroshima: 70k–140k; Nagasaki: 40k–70k—mostly civilians. |
| When did Japan surrender, and what did it mark? | August 15, 1945; ended WWII and marked the rise of the U.S. and USSR as superpowers. |
| What long-term health effects did the atomic bombs cause? | Cancer (leukemia, thyroid, breast, lung), miscarriages, birth defects, intellectual disabilities in children. |
| What was one possible political reason for bombing Nagasaki? | To deter Soviet influence and keep the USSR out of Japan. |
Created by:
25schreiberd
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