Atomic Bomb Pros and Cons List
70 years ago, the decision was made to drop an atomic bomb on the nation of Japan, as a means of bringing World War II to an end. Nagasaki and Hiroshima were affected greatly by this choice and the consequences of this action are still evident today. Some believe that the atomic needed be to be dropped to bring an end to the war, others found it to be a cruel and unusual punishment. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons involved with the usage of an atomic bomb.
List of Pros of Atomic Bomb
1. Saved The Lives Of United States Civilians and Soldiers
It can be argued that the atomic bomb was a necessary measure during World War II, because it prevented a stateside attack. United States soldiers’ lives were also spared, because the war was brought to a screeching halt and they were able to put down their weapons and head home to their families.
2. An Impressive Display Of Power
By dropping an atomic bomb on Japan, the United States was able to display their true military might and show the rest of the world what they were made of. Doing so showed other would be competitors that America’s wrath is second to none. The nation’s superiority was on full display.
3. Peace Talks Expedited
It was much easier to begin negotiations of peace treaties once the atomic bomb had been dropped. After experiencing widespread death and mayhem, the country that unleashed the bomb is now the one who is in a position of power, from a negotiation standpoint.
List of Cons of Atomic Bomb
1. Encourages Other Countries To Build Weapons
Other countries were not content to sit back and let America run roughshod over them, deciding to build their own atomic weaponry. As a result, conflicts throughout the world have grown more heated, as nations fear a strong reprisal from those that possess a cache of atomic weapons.
2. Innocent People Were Killed
When an atomic bomb is dropped, it is impossible for the death and carnage to be centralized in one convenient location. Thousands of innocent Japanese citizens met their demise at the hands of the United States government and this sort of responsibility must be handled with extreme caution and judiciousness.
3. The War Was Already Over
With the benefit of hindsight, we now know that it was probably not necessary for the United States to drop an atomic bomb on Japan, as the country was on the brink of surrender. There is no undoing the damage from an atomic blast, which means that every possible angle should be considered before resorting to that level of violence. Using an atomic bomb should be a last resort used in extremely grave scenarios.