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Cause: Attrack on Pearl Harbor
WWII was already taking place in Europe. The United States supported England and France with supplies but refused to send in any troops or declare war. They ended all trade with Japan, causing the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States officially declared war the next day, on December 8, 1941. Germany and Italy declared war on the United States days later, bringing the United States into WWII. For more information, visit:
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/multimedia/interact -
Cause: The Manhattan Project
On 1942 the United States gathered the world's best scientists at that time to research and develop the world's first atomic bomb. This top-secret project included 37 R&D facilities, 13 university laboratories, and numerous recognized scientists. The cause of the Manhattan Project was in the attack on Pearl Harbor months earlier. This event would later on lead to the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
For more information, visit:http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/mp/ -
Through the Eyes: Supporters and Critics
Even after the development of the atomic bombs, there were both supporters who supported the decision and critics who weren't for it. Through the eyes of Winston Churchill, the Manhattan Project was neccesary. He believed it was worth it to end the war and the deaths of all the soldiers. However, not everyone shared this opinion. Some thought it was unethical and murder to use such a lethal weapon. For more infomation, visit:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nuclear_01.shtml -
Turning Point: Hiroshima Bombing
At 8:15 local time, the Enola Gay (an Allied Forces bomber) dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Nothing nearly as powerful had been built and used before, it was truely a turning point of nuclear warfare. Immedietly over 80,000 people died and with another 40,000 deaths the next day. But with this new lethal weapon came radioactive poisoning; nearly 100,000 died due later on due to it. For further information, visit:
http://www.history.co.uk/explore-history/ww2/atomic-bomb.html -
Effect: Nagasaki Bombing
After Hiroshima was bombed, the Japanese government still refused to surrender. As an effect, in the United States dropped another atomic bomb on Japan. The original target was Kokura, but due to foggy weather the bomber was commanded to redirect its target to Nagasaki. The second atomic bombing in Japan greatly effected the Japanese Government's decision in surrendering. For more information, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki#Nagasaki -
Effect: Surreder of Japan
The surrender of Japan happened on September 2, 1945 exactly 25 days after the Hiroshima bombing and 23 days after the Nagasaki bombing. Mamoru Shigemitsu represented the Empire of Japan and signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, basically stating that they will withdraw all troops in occupied areas. This was the official end of WWII for Japan. For more information, visit:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-surrenders -
Change and continuity: Hiroshima 67th Anniversary
The 67th anniversary for the Hiroshima bombing took place last year in 2012. Over 50,000 people gathered in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. After 76 years, the moral question of whether the nuclear attacks were right still remains the same. A lot has changed in the past 67 years. Japan has become a very urbanized nation after the bombings and rebuilt its economy. For more information, visit:
http://news.yahoo.com/hiroshima-marks-67th-anniversary-bomb-attack-020728964.html
