NUCLEAR WEAPONS

• 1. How did the science of nuclear fission come to the United States?

  • Nuclear fission science came to the United States through refugee scientists, such as Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi, who fled Nazi Germany and Italy and shared their knowledge with American scientists
• 1. What is Dr. Zimmerman's argument in support of Truman's decision to drop the bombs?

  • Dr. Zimmerman argues that Truman's decision to drop the bombs was necessary to save American lives and end the war quickly, avoiding a prolonged and costly invasion of Japan
• 1. What does Gar Alperovitz claim was the real reason Truman decided to drop the bomb?

  • Gar Alperovitz claims that the real reason Truman decided to drop the bomb was to intimidate the Soviet Union and assert American dominance in the post-war world
• 1. Why does Tsuyoshi Hasegawa argue that the Japanese surrendered unconditionally?

  • Tsuyoshi Hasegawa argues that the Japanese surrendered unconditionally due to a combination of factors, including the devastating impact of conventional bombing raids, Soviet entry into the war, and internal political divisions in Japan
• 1. Death and destruction are the most obvious consequences of nuclear weapons. What was anotherconsequence of the discovery of nuclear weapons?

  • Another consequence of the discovery of nuclear weapons was the beginning of the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the threat of global nuclear warfare
• 1. Explain how nuclear weapons help you understand the consequences of World War II.


  • Nuclear weapons help understand the consequences of World War II by highlighting the destructive power of modern warfare, the ethical dilemmas of using such weapons, and the long-term impacts on international relations and security