Atomic Bomb Debate

1
Atomic Bomb Debate

• You will need
• ONE sheet of lined paper
• Your research notes from the Atomic Bomb
  Blendspace

2
Did the US have to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki?

• Create a T-Chart on your lined sheet of paper
• Left Side - SUPPORT Truman MADE the RIGHT
  decision
• Right Side - OPPOSE There were OTHER options
• Using your research notes complete the chart. (15
  minutes)

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Discussion

• Lets see if you came up with what I came up
  with!

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Did Truman make the right decision? YES

• SUPPORT
• Land invasion would cost too many American lives
• Quickest way to end the war
• Revenge for Pearl Harbor and barbaric treatment
  of POWs
• Japanese fight to the death mentality/no
  unconditional surrender
• Two billion dollars spent on Manhattan project
• Militarists in Japan planning coup to topple
  pro-surrender govt
• Civilians had been targeted throughout war no
  worse than bombing raids

5
Did Truman make the right decision? NO

• OPPOSE/OTHER OPTIONS
• Immoral weapon the govt knew it
• Japanese were ready to surrender
• Scientists and leaders cautioned against its use
• Continue conventional bombing and blockade
• Demonstrate the bomb
• Wait for USSR to enter (what was the problem with
  this option?)
• Negotiate peace
• Keep the emperor concession

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Modified DebateClaims Counter Claims

• Was the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb
  justified?

7

• Find a partner. One person will SUPPORT Trumans
  decision to drop the bomb and the other will
  OPPOSE
• Using your T Chart info, write a justification
  for your side in 3 4 EXCELLENT sentences on
  your paper. (10 min.)
• Trade papers with your partner.
• Write a counterclaim commentary to support it
  in response to their argument in 3 4 EXCELLENT
  sentences on their paper (tell them why their
  points are wrong, weak, or flawed and add
  specifics from your side) (5 min.)
• Trade back, read what they wrote, and then rebut
  the counterclaim explain why its flawed using
  as many specifics as you can. (5 min.)

8
Your opinion Whole Class Discussion

• Trumans decision to use atomic weapons against
  Japan is one of the most controversial choices
  made in history. In retrospect, do you think
  Truman made the right decision when he authorized
  the use of atomic weapons?

9
Four Corners Debate

• You will be numbered 1-4.
• Read the prompt associated with your number and
  write down your opinion (is this a good option?
  Why? Is it flawed? How so?...with specific
  reasons.)
• Use the back of your T-Chart from last class (5
  min)
• NO I STATEMENTS

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• Rather than use the atomic bomb on populated
  areas, the US should have conducted a non-combat
  demonstration of power (a publicized test of the
  bomb, etc.).
• Rather than use the atomic bomb strategy, the US
  should have modified their unconditional
  surrender demands (include options they could
  have considered for the conditions of surrender).
  
• Rather than use the atomic bomb, the US should
  have continued their traditional bombing tactics
  and waited for help from the Allies.
• Rather than use the atomic bomb, the US should
  have conducted a land invasion of Japans home
  islands.

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Four Corners Debate

• MOVE to your corner based on your number.
• Divide in halfin two small groups (well have a
  total of 8, 2 groups in each corner of the room).
  
• Discuss as a group/share out a synopsis of what
  you wrote. (10 min)

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Four Corners Debate

• Go back to your seats.
• Volunteer from each of the four corners will
  share out what their group discussedcommonalities
  differences
• Turn in your papers with T-Chart,
  claim/counterclaim/rebuttal Four Corners Debate
  opinion on the option you were assigned