HIST401: Living with the Bomb

Using the Bomb

The atomic bombing of Japan in World War II marked a genuine historical turning point. The motivations behind the decision have remained the subject of bitter debate. The results of that decision had an immediate and profound effect on the world. And yet even today, coming to terms with these issues is been hampered by the prevalence of historical myths.

This week, we wade into these controversial waters to engage the ongoing discussion of how the atomic bombing of Japan should be remembered and explained today. Issues we will discuss include: Why was the bomb used? What did it mean for military affairs? And how did people react to it?

Reaction Paper

This week's reaction paper is a little different and will make more sense once you have gone through the readings carefully.

In around 300 words, explain what you believe to be the most important aspects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and how you believe the bombings should be explained by history. Imagine that you are writing the synopsis for a Smithsonian Institution exhibit on the atomic bombings and that it will be read by visitors to the Smithsonian, including school students, veterans, foreign visitors, and scholars. Your job, in 300 words, it o provide an authoritative explanation of the atomic bombing of Japan for the broader community.

This is not as easy as it might sound and I strongly recommend that you allow yourself some time to work on the actual writing. The best papers will reflect thoughtful synthesis of the readings. In 300 words you cannot mention everything, so you are going to have to choose what should be emphasized and what should be left out. In the class discussion you should be prepared to explain why you made these choices and be able to refer specifically to the readings but in your paper youd you do not need to list and summarize each reading individually.