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Edmonton County School History Department Edmonton County School History Department Outline of your ISBL: You are going to build on the work that you have done in class surrounding the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the Americans in August 1945. By the end of the ISBL you will have produced a balanced argument about whether or not the Americans were justified (right) to drop the bombs. You will also have reached your own decision as to what you think based on the arguments and evidence that you have found out. You will complete a series of tasks to help you get to this end result. If you need help at any stage ask your history teacher. Edmonton County School History Department Task 1: Background research You need to answer each of the questions below. Some of the questions you might already have an idea about as you have covered it in class. Some questions need longer answers than others. 1. Give at least three reasons why the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. 2. What was important to the Japanese about the American naval base at Pearl Harbor? 3. When did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor? 4. Why were the Americans unhappy about what Japan had done (other than the fact they had lost many men and ships) The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese warplanes. The aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Useful websites: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk Edmonton County School History Department Task 2: Factor sorting Below there are a set of factors that explain why some people argue that the Americans were justified (right) to drop the atomic bombs whilst other factors are those put forward by people who think that the Americans were unjustified (wrong) to drop the atomic bomb. Use the following key to label each one showing whether it justifies the dropping of the atomic bomb or argues it was unjustified. Justified= Unjustified= The Japanese treated the Allied prisoners of war (PoW) very badly. The Japanese were using kamikaze attacks on US warships. The Americans sent no clear warning of the power of the bombs they meant to drop. American aircraft could fly over mainland Japan with very little resistance from the Japanese. The Americans were fearful of how many men would be killed if they tried to invade mainland Japan (estimates ranged from 250,000 to 1 million) The Americans had to fight hard to capture each individual island that the Japanese had taken over, this was called island hopping. The Japanese had the mindset of the Samurai – never surrender After the Battle of Midway where the Americans beat the Japanese they had control of the Pacific Ocean and could stop supplies entering Japan, weakening their war effort. The Americans were winning the war using normal bombs – they destroyed the capital of Japan (Tokyo) in one series of attacks, killing 80,000 people. The Japanese government under Suzuki, were trying to send out peace feelers to the US via Stalin. Edmonton County School History Department The Americans captured Saipan which was very close to Japan, from there they could launch air attacks without the need to use aircraft carriers. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor without warning. The American politicians and President (Harry Truman) felt that by using the bomb they could scare Stalin and Russia out of Eastern Europe. The American president Truman believed that it was his duty to save as many American lives as possible, the bomb would do this. Edmonton County School History Department Task 3: Factor sorting continued Now that you have sorted the factors into those justifying and those against the dropping of the atom bomb you will sort them a little bit more. Decide if the factor is: A military factor (to do with the army, navy or air force) A moral factor (to do with whether something is right or wrong) A political factor (to do with politicians or political will). Write the factor and then tick the correct box or boxes. Factor Political Military Moral Edmonton County School History Department Edmonton County School History Department Task 4: Factor research For each of the factors you have sorted you will need to add more historical detail. Fill in the table below with more information. Add at least two more facts. Useful websites: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk Factor The Japanese treated the Allied prisoners of war (PoW) very badly. The Japanese were using kamikaze attacks on US warships. The Americans were fearful of how many men would be killed if they tried to invade mainland Japan (estimates ranged from 250,000 to 1 million) The Americans had to fight hard to capture each individual island that the Japanese had taken over, this was called island hopping. The Japanese government under Suzuki, were trying to send out peace feelers to the US via Stalin. The Americans were winning the war using normal bombs – they destroyed the capital of Japan (Tokyo) in one series of attacks, killing 80,000 people. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor without warning. The American politicians and President (Harry Truman) felt that by using the bomb they could scare Stalin and Russia out of Eastern Europe. The American president Truman believed that it was his duty to save as many American lives as possible, the bomb would do this. Additional facts Edmonton County School History Department Task 5: Essay Was the dropping of the atom bomb justified? Use all the information you have gathered to help write a detailed response to the above question. Use the structure below and P.Q.A to help you write your essay. Possible Structure Introduction Give some background information (when were they dropped? Why were they dropped? Who dropped them? Where were they dropped?) Outline your argument-Was the dropping of the atom bomb justified or not? Try to refer to moral, political and military reasons both for and against the dropping of the bombs. Main part (one paragraph on each of the following) Morally justified “I think that the dropping of the atom bomb was justified for moral reasons. For example President Truman was desperate to protect American soldiers as he was worried to many would be killed if America tried to invade Japan. This made the dropping of the atom bomb morally justified because................ Morally unjustified “However some people would argue that the dropping of the atom bomb was not morally justified because......................For example........” Politically justified P.Q.A Politically unjustified P.Q.A Militarily justified P.Q.A Militarily unjustified P.Q.A Conclusion Give your own opinion using all the evidence – were the Americans justified in dropping the atomic bombs? Explain why you have come to this decision and make sure you explain that there are two sides to the argument. Edmonton County School History Department If you need extra support writing your essay then please speak to your history teacher who will be able to give you an extra essay writing sheet. Good luck!