1. Who was Harry S. Truman's Secretary of War?
Stimson
2. Who was Truman's Chief of Staff?
Admiral William D. Leahy
3. Why did Truman believe nuclear bombs needed to be used?
Truman thought nuclear bombs needed to be used in order for "unconditional surrender" to be achieved.
4. Why did Admiral Leahy believe nuclear bombs didn't need to be used?
Admiral Leahy believed the nuclear bombs were not necessary because he believed Japan was already ready to surrender due to the sea blockade and "successful bombing on the main land."
5. Why did Supreme Allied Commander and future president Dwight D. Eisenhower believe they didn't need to be used?
He believed they didn't need to be used because he thought Japan had already been defeated as well.
6. Critics of Truman fall into two camps. One was that he acted rashly because of his "inferior foreign policy skills" when compared to FDR. What is the other major criticism?
The other major criticism was that since there was such a large amount of money spent on the Manhattan project, that he may have felt pressure to follow through with the action that had been tested.
7. Key critics of Truman's use of the bomb weren't on the "historical fringe," but were who?
The key critics were his secretary of war as well as Admiral Leahy.
8. Truman began to soften on his stance for unconditional surrender but something occurred that changed his mind for good. What was that?
The something that occurred that changed his mind for good was the successful Trinity test of the atom bomb.
9. Besides defeating Japan what was Truman's other possible motivation for using the nuclear bombs on Japan?
Truman's other possible motivation for using the nuclear bombs on Japan was that he realised how powerful and what relevance the nuclear bomb actually had in significance to the postwar relationship between the U.S. and The Soviet Union.
10. At Yalta Stalin promised to enter the war against Japan once Germany was defeated. Conventional thinking said this if the Soviets began fighting against Japan.
If the soviets began fighting against Japan then Japan would obviously be defeated.
11. The four-power surrender ultimatum to be presented to Japan was to be written and decided upon where?
The Potsdam Conference
12. What did the Washington Post editorialize about "unconditional surrender"?
The Washington Post editorialized the the unconditional surrender that the surrendering terms had been softened.
13. What is the significance of Paragraph 12 in the draft copy of the Potsdam Proclamation prior to Truman setting sail on the USS Augusta? (More detail is needed for this question)
The significance of paragraph 12 in the draft copy of the Potsdam Proclamation prior to Truman setting sail on the USS Augusta is that paragraph 12 had originally "gave the Japanese comfort with regard to the maintenance of their emperor" However, by the time Truman arrived at the conference, the paragraph had been removed and changed so that the comforting part about the Japanese Emperor had been removed. The thing that had changed all of this was said to be the success of the Trinity test.
14. What changed when the Proclamation was publicly announced on July 26?
When the proclamation was publicly announced on July 26 was that paragraph 12 had been removed and altered.
15. According to the author, what might have changed Truman's mind to alter the wording in Paragraph 12? (More detail is needed for this question)
According to the author, the thing that may have changed Truman's mind to alter the wording in Paragraph 12 was the success of the Trinity test. According to the reading, "the bomb seems to have shifted from a tool for ending the war with Japan to one that could establish America's primacy in the postwar global balance of power" This was the cause for Truman changing his mind and altering the wording of paragraph 12.
16. Regarding his diary entry of a conversation with Winston Churchill (who is call "P.M." in the entry) what does the author suggest about Truman's attitude with the bomb despite learning what he does from Churchill?
The author suggests about Truman's attitude with the bomb despite learning what he does from Churchill is that Truman had already been planning to use the bomb, even though Japan was ready to surrender.
17. What does his caption on the back of the photo of Stalin and Truman suggest about the use of the bomb?
The caption on the back of the photo suggests that Truman anticipated a great effect by the atom bomb on Japan and also that he "harbored an almost playful sense of rivalry" with Stalin.
18. "From a foreign policy perspective" what two accomplishments were made by dropping the bomb?
The two accomplishments made by dropping the bomb were ending the war with Japan as well as firing the first shot in the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
19. To give credit to Truman, why didn't he know what FDR's intentions were with the bomb?
He didn't know what FDR's intentions were with the bomb because when he was a senator and a vice president he knew very little about the Manhattan project, therefore he knew little about the bomb in general. FDR also died before Germany's surrender so he couldn't have known what FDR actually wanted.
20. How did the discrepancy between the loss of 1 million U.S. soldiers lives versus 20,000 to 40,000 if Japan's mainland would have been invaded, affect the understanding of their use?
This affected the understanding of their use because it made the general public understand why nuclear bombs were used rather than normal invasion, because more lives would've been lost.
21. Based on your readings, this reading, and discussion in class, in a paragraph or two, answer the following: To what extent was President Truman's decision to drop bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?
President Truman's decision to drop the bombs on Japan was not justified. Although there are many reasons as to why Truman dropped them, it wasn't necessary in the least. It is known that Truman didn't know what FDR wanted to do with the bombs, but this is no excuse. If Truman didn't know, he shouldn't have done anything. In addition, Truman may have done it in order to signify postwar power for the U.S. or to fire the first shot in the Cold War with , yet the Soviet Union again, stupid reasons. The last thing we needed was to go into the Cold War with the Soviet Union and to use the bombs to help signify the power of the U.S. just seems cocky. As the reading says, Japan had already been defeated and had been ready to surrender before the bombs were dropped, making the bombs being dropped, overkill. It wasn't necessary and it killed so many people. It would be one thing to have dropped the bombs if Japan had not been defeated or ready to surrender, but when they were, the bombs were still dropped, making the dropping of the bombs unjustified.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Potsdam Conference
1. Read Source 17 (p 68). At Yalta, Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed with Stalin that eastern Europe would be a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’. Do you think Source 17 is what they had in mind?
No, they would not agree with Stalin's views because what Stalin is basically stating in both sources that he is going to try to take charge of eastern Europe. This would not be seen as good by Churchill and Roosevelt because these two were thinking more that Stalin would be simply guiding eastern Europe, not taking it over.
3. Explain how each of the three developments described in the text might affect relationships at Potsdam.
First of all, the fact that Stalin's armies were controlling most of eastern Europe was obviously a problem. Stalin was claiming that this was a method of protection for future attacks, but in reality he was setting up a large communist government/rule all over soviet Russia as well as Easter Europe. This could affect the relationships at Potsdam because Churchill and Truman were obviously uncomfortable with this and didn't want this to be happening, making it an awkward situation. Secondly, because America had President Truman as president after Roosevelt died, it made a very uncomfortable situation for Stalin at Potsdam because Truman was much more anti-communist compared to Roosevelt. Lastly, since America had developed the atomic bomb, this could have made both Churchill as well as Stalin feel very inferior because all of a sudden America was a huge threat with this massive source of power.
"This war is not as in the past; whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social
system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army has power to do so. It cannot
be otherwise." This obviously does not agree with the fact that the Soviet Union would solely be guiding the countries in eastern Europe, but would more so be controlling them to the greatest power that his army had power to.
2. Would they agree with Stalin’s views expressed in Sources 17 and 18? Explain your answer. No, they would not agree with Stalin's views because what Stalin is basically stating in both sources that he is going to try to take charge of eastern Europe. This would not be seen as good by Churchill and Roosevelt because these two were thinking more that Stalin would be simply guiding eastern Europe, not taking it over.
3. Explain how each of the three developments described in the text might affect relationships at Potsdam.
First of all, the fact that Stalin's armies were controlling most of eastern Europe was obviously a problem. Stalin was claiming that this was a method of protection for future attacks, but in reality he was setting up a large communist government/rule all over soviet Russia as well as Easter Europe. This could affect the relationships at Potsdam because Churchill and Truman were obviously uncomfortable with this and didn't want this to be happening, making it an awkward situation. Secondly, because America had President Truman as president after Roosevelt died, it made a very uncomfortable situation for Stalin at Potsdam because Truman was much more anti-communist compared to Roosevelt. Lastly, since America had developed the atomic bomb, this could have made both Churchill as well as Stalin feel very inferior because all of a sudden America was a huge threat with this massive source of power.
Origins of the Cold War: Yalta Conference
1. Choose two points of agreement from the list and explain why they were significant for the future peace of Europe.
First Point: "The Big Three all agreed to join the new United Nations Organisation, which would aim to
First Point: "The Big Three all agreed to join the new United Nations Organisation, which would aim to
keep peace after the war." This is a very important point because the U.N. is basically know for keeping peace between countries. The fact that the Big Three joined is significant to the future peace in Europe because these countries would then more likely stay out of conflict with Europe in the future.
Second Point: "As Allied soldiers advanced through Germany, they were revealing the horrors of the Nazi
concentration camps. The Big Three agreed to hunt down and punish war criminals who were
responsible for the genocide." This was an important point to the future peace of Europe because this could imply that such horrors having been done, may not be done again, and Europe is almost being protected from it happening once again.
2. Read Sources 2 - 11 on pages 320 and 321. What is your overall impression of the Yalta Conference based on these sources? Based on these resources my overall impression of the Yalta Conference is that everyone seemed to get along when they were at the actual conference but, most of the sources were writings after the conference. From these sources i feel as though everyone was sort of plotting against each other or Russia in general. For example, in Source 10, "Churchill ordered Montgomely to keep the German arms intact, in case they had to be used against the Russians." This is showing almost a secret plot against Russia.Then in source 4,"Stalin waved his hand over the Soviet Union and exclaimed, 'They [Roosevelt and Churchill] will never accept the idea that so great a space should be red, never, never!" This seems as though Stalin was trying to glorify his nation. Tuesday, April 10, 2012
America Enters World War II
1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?
The outbreak of war in Europe's impact on U.S. foreign and defense policy for one was the cost of national defense. As the reading states, "Roosevelt asked congress to increase spending for national defense" Another effect the war in Europe had on the U.S. was that congress passed the first military draft and millions of men were to be registered. Lastly, since Roosevelt was reelected, Roosevelt's policy of aiding Britain was put into action.
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?
Roosevelt took on unneutral step after another to assist Britain and The Soviet Union because Hitler had gone back on his agreement with Stalin and invaded Soviet Russia. Roosevelt said he agreed with Winston Churchill "who has said,'if Hitler Invaded Hell' The British would be prepared to work with the devil himself"
3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?
The Atlantic Charter was important because it was a joint declaration of war aims. According to the reading "Both countries pledged the following: collective security disarmament, self- determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the sea" This was obviously important because each aim of war is defined as to what it is and what the "rules of war" are. This also became the basis of the U.N.
4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?
The U.S entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany because a U-boat torpedoed the a U.S. ship and 11 lives were lost. A few days later another U.S. ship was torpedoed by a U-Boat and therefore the United States had just reason to enter and undeclared shooting war with Germany.
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?
Oil was a source of conflict between Japan and the U.S. because Japan decided to take over French Military bases, because of this the U.S. cut off trade with Japan because this was an act of aggression. By the U.S. doing this, they cut off oil along with other goods with Japan, and Japan needed oil in order to thrive as a country.
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese would solve the problem of isolationists. Prior to the attack they had not been in full support of America and the war effort, but after the attack on Pearl Harbour the isolationists supported America completely, and America having declared war on Japan. One problem this attack made for the U.S. is having to fight wars in both the Atlantic and the pacific ocean. Another problem caused by this attack was the fact that Germany and Italy declared war on the United States shortly after they declared war on Japan.
The outbreak of war in Europe's impact on U.S. foreign and defense policy for one was the cost of national defense. As the reading states, "Roosevelt asked congress to increase spending for national defense" Another effect the war in Europe had on the U.S. was that congress passed the first military draft and millions of men were to be registered. Lastly, since Roosevelt was reelected, Roosevelt's policy of aiding Britain was put into action.
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?
Roosevelt took on unneutral step after another to assist Britain and The Soviet Union because Hitler had gone back on his agreement with Stalin and invaded Soviet Russia. Roosevelt said he agreed with Winston Churchill "who has said,'if Hitler Invaded Hell' The British would be prepared to work with the devil himself"
3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?
The Atlantic Charter was important because it was a joint declaration of war aims. According to the reading "Both countries pledged the following: collective security disarmament, self- determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the sea" This was obviously important because each aim of war is defined as to what it is and what the "rules of war" are. This also became the basis of the U.N.
4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?
The U.S entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany because a U-boat torpedoed the a U.S. ship and 11 lives were lost. A few days later another U.S. ship was torpedoed by a U-Boat and therefore the United States had just reason to enter and undeclared shooting war with Germany.
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?
Oil was a source of conflict between Japan and the U.S. because Japan decided to take over French Military bases, because of this the U.S. cut off trade with Japan because this was an act of aggression. By the U.S. doing this, they cut off oil along with other goods with Japan, and Japan needed oil in order to thrive as a country.
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese would solve the problem of isolationists. Prior to the attack they had not been in full support of America and the war effort, but after the attack on Pearl Harbour the isolationists supported America completely, and America having declared war on Japan. One problem this attack made for the U.S. is having to fight wars in both the Atlantic and the pacific ocean. Another problem caused by this attack was the fact that Germany and Italy declared war on the United States shortly after they declared war on Japan.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Dictators Threaten World Peace
1. Why did the new democracies set up after World War I fail? (And yes, I am aware the answer is in the reading so make sure your answer is in your own words.)
The new democracies set up after WWI failed because of a lack of democratic tradition, the failure of the treaty of Versailles, economic depression and devastation, nationalism, and desire for territorial expansion.
2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian state?
The characteristics of a totalitarian state is that individuals have no rights and the government"suppresses all opposition"
3. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy?
The factors that led to the rise of Fascism in Italy is that there was a huge amount of unemployment and strikes. The middle and upper classed people felt threatened by these and ordered to have a stronger leadership in their government.Mussolini took advantage of this and gained most Italians support by making speeches of economic collapse and communism.
4. What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf ?
In Mein Kampf the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented "the basic beliefs of Nazism" He also encouraged purification in the home, saying that specifically blonde hair and blue eyed people were to rule over the inferior races. Lastly, Hitler believed that more expansion was needed in order to "thrive"
5. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?
Japan invaded Manchuria because they had a similar idea to Hitler, that in order to thrive, they needed to expand, thus they invaded Manchuria in 1931. They were imperialistic and needed more land for a growing population.
6. What foreign countries were involved in the Spanish Civil War?
The foreign countries that were involved in the Spanish Civil war were America (3,000 went to Spain to fight against Franco) the Soviet Union (Sent equipment and advisers) According to the text "Hitler and Mussolini backed Franco's forces with troops, weapons, tanks, and fighter planes"
7. What factors contributed to America's growing isolationism?
The factors that contributed to America's growing isolationism is that America wanted to stay out of war because it basically had nothing to do with them, as well as the fact that they also wanted to stay neutral. The girl scouts even changed their uniforms to seem less militaristic.
The new democracies set up after WWI failed because of a lack of democratic tradition, the failure of the treaty of Versailles, economic depression and devastation, nationalism, and desire for territorial expansion.
2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian state?
The characteristics of a totalitarian state is that individuals have no rights and the government"suppresses all opposition"
3. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy?
The factors that led to the rise of Fascism in Italy is that there was a huge amount of unemployment and strikes. The middle and upper classed people felt threatened by these and ordered to have a stronger leadership in their government.Mussolini took advantage of this and gained most Italians support by making speeches of economic collapse and communism.
4. What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf ?
In Mein Kampf the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented "the basic beliefs of Nazism" He also encouraged purification in the home, saying that specifically blonde hair and blue eyed people were to rule over the inferior races. Lastly, Hitler believed that more expansion was needed in order to "thrive"
5. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?
Japan invaded Manchuria because they had a similar idea to Hitler, that in order to thrive, they needed to expand, thus they invaded Manchuria in 1931. They were imperialistic and needed more land for a growing population.
6. What foreign countries were involved in the Spanish Civil War?
The foreign countries that were involved in the Spanish Civil war were America (3,000 went to Spain to fight against Franco) the Soviet Union (Sent equipment and advisers) According to the text "Hitler and Mussolini backed Franco's forces with troops, weapons, tanks, and fighter planes"
7. What factors contributed to America's growing isolationism?
The factors that contributed to America's growing isolationism is that America wanted to stay out of war because it basically had nothing to do with them, as well as the fact that they also wanted to stay neutral. The girl scouts even changed their uniforms to seem less militaristic.
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