Question:
I really need some last minute help!!! Also
What other options could the Allies and especially the Unites States have pursued? What were the advantages and disadvantages of these options?
Answer:
Hi,
One theory is that the Hiroshima bomb was used in the end more as a show of power to the Soviets than to force a Japanese surrender.
The Japanese had already investigated the possibilty of a negotiated peace, knowing that invasion was just a matter of time. Their main condition was that the Emperor of Japan remained in his position after the war and this was turned down by the allies who wanted an unconditional surrender.
In Europe it was becoming obvious that there was going to be a stand off between the western allies and the Soviets.. as well as this the the Japanese were now being rolled back in the east by the Red Army. The west became worried about the communists land grabs and the theory is that the US flexed it's atomic muscles to show Stalin how powerful they were and keep him in line.
The Alternatives to the bomb would have been:
A) an invasion of Japan in which possibly millions of Americans and the allies would have died.. not to mention the millions of Japanese.
B) Negotiate a peace, which is unlikely as there were powerful factions in Japan who opposed it. The moderates who wanted it would not have succeeded.
The irony is that after the two bombs were dropped an Japan surrendered, the US allowed them to keep the Emperor anyway.
So, it was either to save American lives by avoiding and invasion or to stop Stalin from taking on the West... both points were pretty valid at the time and I suspect that the US Government decided using the weapon served both purposes.
Hope this helps!
Take care.
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