Why did Japan surrender? video worksheets, differentiated

An outstanding and robust review of the common wisdom that the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused the Japanese surrender. With extensive use of attributed quotations from high-level politicians, warriors, and historians from all sides. This film considers overlooked events and evidence, including the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945. Revisionist versus orthodox views are critically considered in detail (all sources given) and will really encourage your students to carefully weigh up evidence.

Included are: a review of the established facts (Nazi surrender, the Potsdam Conference including Stalin’s offer and evidence of Japan’s approaches; successful A-Bomb tests. The Potsdam Proclamation, the atomic strikes against Japan. Soviet invasion of Manchuria. Japanese surrender. A review of the decision to use A-bombs: to avoid a ground invasion, expected to be very costly. Domestic pressure on Truman. Soviet army as “insurance” against ineffective A-bombs. Were they significantly different from conventional bombing? Was Hirohito more concerned about Soviet invasion? Should the US have guaranteed Hirohito’s status?

Find the film on YouTube by searching for Did Japan Surrender Because of the Atomic Bomb?

15 questions for the 23-min film. Differentiated! Both versions look very similar, but “B” version has subtle clues. Excellent subtitles, scripted, not auto-generated. Answer sheet. Very easy to mark. .doc & .pdf for all files.

Please check that you can access the video before you download these sheets. All the links work when I upload. If my links no longer work, the videos may still be found elsewhere on YouTube etc.