"The Revisionists, however, believe that Truman had either partially or entirely different reasons for bombing Japan. They believe that the destruction of two Japanese cities would accomplish several things. Most obviously, it would punish the Japanese for the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the atrocious treatment of American prisoners of war. Also, an atomic bombing of Japan is also the only thing that would justify the expense of the Manhattan Project. If this expense was not justified, Truman would have faced a Congressional inquiry into the misappropriation of $2 billion. Not only did he want to avoid Congressional hearings, but he also wanted another term of office. His chances of reelection would have been nil if it were learned by the general public that he wasted money and American lives by shelving a weapon that could have ended the war more quickly. The final Revisionist claim is that Truman wanted to give the U.S. and edge in the coming Cold War by showing that he was not afraid to use these weapons of mass destruction."
Before the dropping of the atomic bombs, President Truman addressed that he was dropping the bombs to save lives. However, people argued that he had ulterior motives. Revisionists, people who question Truman's motives, believed that Truman's real reasons for dropping the bombs were to punish the Japanese for the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to avoid Congressional hearings, and to give US an edge in the coming of Cold War.
"Finally, some accuse the U.S. of ulterior motives in dropping the bomb. Some cite revenge for the Pearl Harbor attack, while others claim racism against the Japanese. Yet others say it was done for political reasons; either to justify the $2 billion ($20 billion in 1990 dollars) spent on the project to develop the bomb, or as the only way to obtain Japan's unconditional surrender, because the political cost of accepting anything less was too high."
Excerpt from Public Statement by President Truman, August 6, 1945
"The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth."President Truman used the dropping of the bombs as revenge for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He implies that if the Japanese do not accept their terms, they are up for a rude awakening.
President Truman, Diary Entry, August 9, 1945
"The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians. But that attack is only a warning of things to come. If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost."
Truman is contradicting himself because he first said that the attack will save the American lives, but in reality, he is saying that he will be forced to attack if Japan does not surrender.
Telegram, Richard Russell to Harry S. Truman, August 7, 1945
"Let us carry the way to them until they bug us to accept the unconditional surrender. The foul attack on Pearl Harbor brought us into the way and I am unable to see any valid reason why we should be so much more considerate and lenient in deal with Japan than with Germany. I earnestly insist Japan should be dealt with as harshly as Germany and that she should not be the beneficiary of a soft peace. "
Richard Russell thinks that should basically destroy Japan because of what they did to US instead of being all lenient about the situation.
Henry Stimson argued that the use of bombs was to intimidate the Soviets. During that period, the Soviet Union was developing a growing sphere of influence, and President Truman didn't want the Soviets to gain a large foothold of the region. The atomic bombing served as a U.S strength of the Soviet Union. The same day that Hiroshima was bombed, the Soviets invaded Manchuria which was the pathway to them entering the war against Japanese.
President Truman used the atomic bombing as a way to intimidate the Soviets, and it worked. The Soviets entered the war against the Japanese, which was resistant to give into surrender. The Soviets had signed a neutrality pact with Japan in 1941, but the Soviets agreed to join the war with Japan in 1945 within three months following the end of war in Europe.
President Truman used the atomic bombing as a way to intimidate the Soviets, and it worked. The Soviets entered the war against the Japanese, which was resistant to give into surrender. The Soviets had signed a neutrality pact with Japan in 1941, but the Soviets agreed to join the war with Japan in 1945 within three months following the end of war in Europe.
"The truth is that President Truman made a conscious and calculated decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan in order to intimidate the Soviet Union and force the Russians to accept American leadership and domination of the post-war world."
President Truman Diary Entry
"I was not willing to hand over to the Russians the fruits of a long and bitter and courageous fight, a fight in which they had not participated."
Truman doesn't want the Russians to take the win after a long fight and a fight that they have not physically participated in.
Vyacheslav M. Molotov, Japan's Ambassador to the Soviet Union
"The Pacific War is a matter of life and death for Japan, and as a result of America's attitude, we have no choice but to continue the fight....It has now become clearly impossible for Japan to submit. Japan is fighting for her very existence and must continue to fight."
The Japanese ambassador has chosen to fight in the war because they want their independence and their existence. If they do not fight, then they will lose everything.
Ernest May, Historian, Article in Pacific Historical Review
"Japanese die-hards...had acknowledged since 1941 that Japan could not fight Russia as well as the United States and Britain. "
Japan could not fight as well as Russia; this is a sign that they will be surrendering soon.
Szilard was Concerned
"that by demonstrating the bomb and using it in the war against Japan, we might start an atomic arms race between America and Russia which might end with the destruction of both countries."
Szilard warned people that the atomic bomb would spark an arms race between U.S and the Soviet Union. He felt that the bomb will start a war between the Soviets, and it will end the destruction of both countries.
This is a video of a man who thinks that US did not need to drop the atomic bombs:
