Why did President Truman decide to drop the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945?

This outstanding resource has been designed to help students looking in depth at the historical controversy over President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945. At the time the USA claimed that the decision to drop the bomb on Japan was based on military factors. This resources presents students with the primary, secondary and key information to compare this interpretation with three others including to scare the USSR, test the weapon, revenge for Pear Harbor and come to a balanced independent conclusion. The resources and text level would suit a middle to upper ability group and could be used as a class or extended homework based resource. There is enough work and activity to last between 3/4 lessons for a middle ability class. This is a depth study which allows students to weigh up the evidence, compare sources and come to a reasoned assessment which form the basis for an essay.

When you purchase this resource you will be able to download a beautifully illustrated twenty six slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation and a 6 page Microsoft Word document with thirteen primary and secondary sources, a source summary sheet and an enquiry question. The PowerPoint includes information slides, video clip links, pictures, seven activities, starters, plenaries, primary and secondary sources covering all the different interpretations. For further informations, please refer to the preview panel where I have uploaded all the slides for you to view.

The aims and objectives of this depth study are:

Theme: Why did the USA drop two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945?

• Know: Why did Japan surrender in August 1945?
• Understand: What role did the atomic bomb play in Japan’s defeat?
• Evaluate: Why did President Truman decide to use the atomic bomb?

WILF: What Am I Looking For?

• Identify and describe: At least two possible reasons why the Americans decided to drop the bomb in 1945.
• Explain: Why historians disagree with the official explanation given by President Truman in 1945.
• Analyse: Come to a balanced conclusion on why Truman dropped the bomb.

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Kind Regards

Roy