Calculating the Costs: Atomic Bombs in 1945

The decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was seen by many, including President Truman, as a necessary means to end World War II. But was the United States justified in its decision to drop the bombs?

Students will look at the social, diplomatic, and economic costs and whether those costs outweighed the overall benefit of using the bomb to end World War II. Students will be responsible for analyzing various primary sources and secondary documents to develop an argumentative essay.