How was the United States justified in dropping the two atomic bombs in Japan?

The justification given was to end the war as quickly as possible, thus saving the lives that would have been expended either through a blockade of Japan, continued fire bombing or an outright invasion. The intimidation factor of course is an issue as is the "we just spent all this money on this weapon, perhaps we should justify that by using it", both as subtexts to use as arguments looking at the hope (which was unfounded) that with such a devastating weapon perhaps war itself could be eliminated or at least contained. You might say that the Cold War was the result of that level of devastation as the Super Powers found ways to confront one another without a devastating Global Armed Conflict.

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To the US government, the invasion of Japan was a terrifying prospect. While the Japanese were not in a position to launch any new offensives into the Pacific they still had significant defensive power on the home islands themselves. In fact the Japanese government was attempting to train every citizen, man, woman, child, to defend against the invaders with any weapon available.

Estimates of US casualties for an invasion of Japan ranged from 250,000 to one million. With significantly more than that for the Japanese. The US was worried about the fierce resistance they would face, especially after Iwo Jima.

So they decided that if they could demonstrate to the Japanese once and for all that it was hopeless, then maybe they would finally surrender instead of fighting to the bitter end.

Many people scoff at the idea that the A-bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved lives. But the simple fact is that a long drawn out invasion would have resulted in many, many times more deaths. And those cities were scheduled for bombing anyway, they contained factory targets, so they would not have remained unscathed for long.

And don't forget that the long term side effects of an A-bomb were unknown at the time. It's possible that after seeing the aftermath of these weapons that no more would have been used, even if the Japanese had not surrendered.

Wow nicely it stopped the warfare - it kept numerous american lives and it became a race for the atomic bomb on the time Which ever united states of america were given it first became going to might want to instruct it the perception you may want to easily say we were given it first and by no potential be challenged did not and couldn't exist became the killing of usually civilians a good aspect ? No , no it became no longer Is the US having the excellence of the in problem-free words united states of america interior the international to unharness this manner of meanace on the international good - No no that's not between the large complications became that the scientists of the day were no longer constructive what would happen after it became exploded some idea it would reason a series reaction lighting fixtures the oxygen of the globe on fireplace The President of the US - took that chance - having been counseled that the international would become a international fireplace ball - I go away it to you to judge it for your self because it did not happen - yet that should not be the point That bomb replaced the international and the stability of capacity continuously and secured the US as an excellent capacity for the subsequent 50 years - All because they were first and everybody else had to play seize up would you've prefered Germany or Russia or or or received that diverse race ?

Was the US 'justified' in the atomic bomb attack? I always find this question funny because it's always asked by people looking back on history with today's views. Remember it was war. Japanese civilians at the time were very loyal to the Emperor. I know that many, espically the hippy generation and today's generations do not understand this loyality.

The Japanese were preparing for an invasion by training its civilians to fight. As I see it there were two other ways to end the war. Invasion and blockade. Both would have probably had higher loss of live and destruction. I think if either route had been taken then Japan's recovery would have been harder and longer than it was.

Of course you don't believe it. You have been taught that everything is relative.

Well relate to this: pretend it is you and two hundred thousand fellow soldiers, sailors, and marines who are sitting on an island just a short flight and/or a short boat ride away from the mainland of Japan. You are poised to invade to end the war once and for all.

It has already been made crystal clear by the Japanese high command that the Japanese Army and Navy, as well as every civilian, will fight to the very last,

that surrender in the face of the enemy is considered disgraceful,

and that it will be the task of every Japanese man, woman, and child to also try to kill the enemy in any way possible.

Suppose also that you have already heard the estimates that as many as a quarter million or more American, British, Australian, French, Belgian, etc. soldiers will die trying to take the main island of Japan---as many soldiers as have already died since the war started in 1939. It WILL be a bloodbath. Millions of fanatical Japanese are also going to die.

They believe their Emperor is a GOD!!!!

Now suppose you have 2 bombs which will make an invasion unnecessary and will kill far fewer civilians than an invasion will.

Now, play the part of President Truman and ask yourself which is the lesser of the two evils facing you? Kill Millions or Kill a hundred thousand?

Looking at the history surrounding the Pacific theater of World War Two the United States found justification in the use of the two attomic bombs in the lives they saved. Yes they obvoiusly cost a great many lives, however, had the U.S. been forced to invade mainland Japan the cost in lives on both sides would have far exceeded that of the entire Europian Theater. The use of the atomic weapons on two cities, each of which were key parts of Empirial Japan's military/industrial complex, ended the war in the pacific before more blood could be shed.

To be frank, What comes around goes around. The Japanese were killing large amounts of Chinese for fun, science, or just plain terror. They were hiding the people they used in their science by writing down as a "Monkey." find "The Rape of Nanjing" Also we saved many US, British, and Japanese lives. The Japanese were going to die before they were going to surrender. Mothers were going to throw their babies with TNT in their bundles under are tanks. Also so many sailors were going to be attacked by Kamikaze planes, boats, and subs. Also the death of the people from the impact was instant, the same way the captain of USS Arizona died and all that was left was his Academy ring melted into the side of the ship. The Germans in the fire-bombing of Dresden was more deadly and a whole lot more painful. The fire was sucking the o2 out of their lungs. In fact more people died in the fire-bombings of Tokyo then the Atomic Bombs did. I'm not saying that it is justified, just for the saving of lives that would not be here today.

Their is no hope: Their is a differences between "Able" to fight on and "Going" to fight on. They were going to fight to the death even with no real air force, a sunk navy a obsolete army and a untrained civilians.

Well I think you should first start with a description on the relations between The US and Japan during the War: what they were interested in gaining, etc. You should then talk about Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was the actual reason that determined the US to launch the atomic weapon. Finally you should end with the effect of the nuclear attack: Japan makes peace.

That's how I would do it!!!

Because the allied casualties which would have resulted from a conventional invasion of Japan were estimated in the region of 1 million.

Dropping the atom bombs saved a lot of lives then and since.

i have been taught the history from an american stand point, but trust me, that isn't the mindset i have. however, japan had a formal warning. they knew the consequences when they refused surrender. the navy had already been broken at the battle of leyte gulf and the allies WOULD HAVE taken japan ANYWAY, it justwould have much bloodier. rather than that, they gave them an official warning and once answered. dropped the bomb. and keep in mind, they still didn't surrender, hence the second bomb. thank the leaders' pride for that one