Emma CadmanMs. MoultonUnited States History II5/27/2014In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombs led to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. The atomic bombs caused the deaths of 240,000 Japanese citizens. Today, 69 years after the attacks, US citizens still wonder whether dropping the bombs was the right choice. President Truman chose to drop the atomic bomb because he knew that many American lives would be lost if the United States invaded Japan. He knew that the war would last much longer and could end with a compromise between the nations, rather than with Japan's unconditional surrender. Truman also wanted to show off America's new weapons and supremacy. All of these factors led to Truman's decision. President Truman had America's best intentions in mind when he chose to drop the atomic bombs. The United States was justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki because they ended the war without losing American lives, let the United States dictate the terms of the war's end, and demonstrated its superior power over the Union Soviet and other nations. the atomic bombs ended the war without losing any American lives. “Japanese troops had demonstrated time and again that they could fight and inflict heavy casualties even when the prospects were hopeless” (Military Considerations). Every beach invasion led by American soldiers was met by relentless Japanese soldiers. This island hopping campaign led to too many unnecessary American casualties. At the time, it was estimated that a full invasion of Japan could result in 1 million American casualties. “The invasion could have been the biggest… means of paper… on them as a way to become the sole victor of World War II. The atomic bomb did exactly that and the United States and the United Kingdom were the victors of the war. The United States was justified in dropping the bombs because it demonstrated its power over other post-war nations. The United States made the right decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Without the bombs the United States would have invaded Japan and lost the lives of thousands of innocent American soldiers. This invasion could have ended the war with a compromise rather than the expected unconditional surrender of Japan and the resignation of the Japanese emperor. The bomb succeeded in positively ending the war, but it also helped the United States demonstrate its power over other countries, especially the Soviet Union. The United States was justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. Works Cited Works Cited