Websites I used:
1. History Link
This is a credible website because it is a ".org", which is a non-profit, and the hyperlinks on the site work; there are ways to contact the website.
2. CSIS
This is a credible website because it is a ".org", which is a non-profit, and the hyperlinks on the site work. There is also a date on when it was published and has an author.
3. History
This website is a respected site that takes an honest look at questions based on historical evidence; the hyperlink works, making this another credible website. There also references to contact the website.
What I found:
Website #1: This websites focuses on how it was done. On August 6, 1945, the United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. That day, President Harry Truman announced that the United States had dropped the bomb. The President said: “The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East ... . If they [the Japanese leaders] do not now accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth” (Seattle Star, p 5). "The mission to bomb Hiroshima began at 2:45 a.m. local time August 6, 1945. At that time a B-29 Superfortress named Enola Gay lifted off with two escort B-29s from a small island in the Marianas and flew the 1,500 mile trip to Japan" (Website #1). This shows that the Americans were prepared and were ready to drop that bomb. During the 6 1/2 hour flight the Colonel described to the rest of the crew the 10 1/2 foot long, 9,700 pound bomb. As the planes approached Japan, the two B-29 escorts pulled out and the Enola Gay continued alone. At 9:15 a.m. at 31,000 feet elevation, the destination was reached and the bomb released. "Forty-three seconds later the atom bomb exploded at 1,850 feet over the city of Hiroshima where 343,000 people resided. The number of deaths that day was incomprehensible. Estimates ranged from 60,000 to 100,000. Radiation killed thousands more in the months and years to follow. Of the 76,000 buildings in the city, 70,000 were destroyed or damaged. An area of four square miles was vaporized" (Website #1). This shows that the bomb they dropped was powerful killing many and many people. That it left radiation that was still active that killed thousands couple months and years after the bombing. A second bomb was dropped because of "after Japan's failure to surrender immediately, a second B-29, namedBock's Car, was dispatched on August 9 to drop a second atomic bomb, on the city of Nagasaki" (Website #1). This infers that the American wanted them to surrender for good, since the Japanese didn't, another bomb was dropped. This killed over 100,000 lives, injured and sickened tens of thousands.
Website #2: This websites focuses on how Americans had doubts on dropping the bomb. First President Truman wanted to end the war as quickly as possible with the fewest U.S. causalities and he has reasons to why he chose to use the bomb. "Ending the war at the earliest possible moment" (Website #2). This was the primary objective for the U.S. to win the war at the lowest possible cost. Truman also was looking for the most effective way to end the war quickly. Another reason, "to impress the Soviets" (Website #2). With the end of the war nearing, the Soviets were an important strategic consideration, especially with their military control over most of Eastern Europe. However, this idea is thought to be more understood as an ancillary benefit of dropping the bomb and not so much its sole purpose. The bombing was also a respond to Pearl Harbor. Truman responded by noting the atrocities of Pearl Harbor. He said that when you have to deal with a beast you treat it as a beast. There were also alternatives on dropping the bomb. "At the same time, alternatives to both the bomb and the invasion were discussed by the Interim Committee established to advise the manner in which nuclear weapons should be employed against Japan." (Website #2). This infers that the Americans had their doubts on doing it and they had to discuss it with the committee. The alternatives they came up with were intensifying conventional bombing and the naval blockade, allowing the Japanese to retain the Emperor, or waiting for the Soviet Union to enter the war.
Website #3: This website has additional information about the atomic bomb. The dropping of the bombs, which occurred by executive order of US President Harry Truman, remains the only nuclear attack in history. "Since 1942, more than 100,000 scientists had been working on the bomb’s development" (Website #3). This shows that it took a lot of people to build the bomb and they've been working on it since 1942, a year after Pearl Harbor was attack. It involved 37 installations across the US, 13 university laboratories and a host of prestigious participants. On 16 July 1945, scientists carried out the first trial of the bomb in the New Mexico desert. President Truman received news of the successful test whilst negotiating the post-war settlement in Europe at the Potsdam Conference. "Although voices within the US Military expressed caution regarding the use of the new weapon against Japan, Truman was convinced that the bomb was the correct and only option" (Website #3). This infers that Truman insisted to use the atomic bomb on Japan even though the U.S. Military expressed caution with using the new weapon on Japan. "Six months of intense strategic fire-bombing of 37 Japanese cities had done little to break the Hirohito regime’s resolve, and Japan continued to resolutely ignore the demand for unconditional surrender made at Potsdam" (Website #3). This shows that the bombing of Japan did as little because they would not surrender. Also because of that reason America had to bomb them the second time and the Japanese finally surrendered.