The atomic bomb useful or harmfulThere was a time in America when the name "atomic bomb" seemed fictitious to some, non-existent to others, and seemed only a dream to those. in the scientific world. Those days are long gone. The day that changed all ideas and opinions about what the war was and what it became was August 6, 1945. President Truman had decided to drop the atomic bomb to end the war and save as many lives as possible. The United States had dropped the bomb on Hiroshima to almost instantly end the war and avert a bloody invasion, thereby saving American and Japanese lives. Whether or not to drop the atomic bomb was President Truman's decision. Faced with this decision, Truman researched and asked advisors to share their ideas on the bomb, then made the best decision for the American and Japanese people. “In an invasion of Japan, the fighting would have been more savage and the number of lives lost on both sides would have been tragic. » (O'Neal 35) The atomic bomb was essential in helping end the war. and save lives. The decision to drop the atomic bomb was made by President Truman. In his decision he stated: “The only thing that was the right thing to do for the American and Japanese people was to end the war through the use of the atomic bomb. » (O'Neal 36) Why all the controversy over the bomb? Historians and people today continue to ask this question along with others. Were the Japanese seriously considering surrender before the bomb was dropped, and was the only way to end the war with the bomb? The atomic bomb saved lives on both sides and helped end the war. The facts remain: the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima killed many civilians, but if the war continued, it would have killed many more. When President Truman entered the White House, he had problems and decisions ahead of him. During his first days of briefing with advisors and the committee, he had said: "I have to decide on Japanese strategy: should we invade Japan proper or should we bomb and impose a blockade?" This is my hardest decision yet, but I will make it when I have all the facts. "(Takaki 26) As you can see, Truman did not intend to make any decisions without instruction and he was in no hurry to do so... middle of paper... a atomic bomb was being assembled at the time and it was to be dropped on Tokyo, this bomb was never used The 500,000 lives saved during the bombing of Hiroshima, compared to the 100,000 deaths during the bombing, show that Truman did indeed make the best decision when lives were at stake. Bibliography: Alperovitz, Gar. Chicago: DC Heath and Company, 1974. Blow, Michael. . New York, New York: American Heritage Publishing and Company Inc., 1968. Feis, Herbert. The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II Chicago: Princeton University Press, 1866. Kurzman, Dan. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1986. Nardo, Don. Modern Japan: Lucent Books, 1995. O'Neal, Michael. President Truman and the atomic bomb. San Diego, CA Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1990. Takaki, Ronald. Hiroshima. Canada: Little Brown and Company Limited, 1995. Wheeler, Keith. Books about life in World War II. Virginia: Time Life Books Inc., 1983. Wyden, Peter. First day before Hiroshima and after. New York: Simon and Schusler, 1984.