Question
Read this excerpt from President Harry Truman's radio address to the American people on August 9,1945 Then answer the question that follows. I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb. Its production and its use were not lightly undertaken by this Government But we knew that our enemies were on the search for it.We know now how close they were to finding it. And we knew the disaster which would come to this Nation, and to all peace-loving nations, to all civilization, if they had found it first. That is why we felt compelled to undertake the long and uncertain and costly labor of discovery and production. We won the race of discovery against the Germans. Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make/war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us. Based on the excerpt what are three reasons President Truman provides for the development and use of atomic bombs by the United States? Atomic bombs caused less destruction and death than other bombs. The Axis powers would have been unstoppable if they had developed the atomic bomb first. D The atomic bombs needed to be tested in a real-world war scenario in Asia. The Americans used the bomb to end the war and minimize American casualties. D The bombing was necessary to stop aggressive nations that endangered world peace.
Answer
4.2
(275 Votes)
Eleanor
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
Based on the excerpt, the three reasons President Truman provides for the development and use of atomic bombs by the United States are:1. **Preventing the Axis powers from acquiring the atomic bomb:** Truman mentions that the United States knew its enemies were seeking the atomic bomb and emphasizes the potential disaster if they had obtained it first. This indicates a strategic motivation to prevent the Axis powers from gaining such a powerful weapon.2. **Ending the war and minimizing American casualties:** Truman states that the atomic bomb was used to shorten the agony of war and save the lives of thousands of young Americans. This suggests a pragmatic approach to ending the conflict with Japan as quickly as possible, thereby reducing the loss of American lives.3. **Halting aggressive actions by enemy nations:** Truman justifies the use of the atomic bomb against Japan by citing its aggression, including the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and mistreatment of American prisoners of war. This reflects a belief that the bombings were necessary to stop aggressive nations that endangered world peace.