The Atomic End to World War II and What it Means for Humans Today

Students will compare and contrast different perspectives of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and draw a conclusion about whether or not dropping the bombs was a good decision.

Students will analyze alternatives to the use of atomic/nuclear weapons and determine if these would have been better options than dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Students will assess which option would have been the best to end the war with Japan.

Students will analyze the current state of nuclear weapons in the world and determine if nuclear weapons are necessary.

Students will create an advocacy/awareness project (letter, speech, video, presentation, essay, etc.) to argue for or against the existence of nuclear weapons.

1. First, students read an article explaining the typical American perspective of the bombings as a means to end the war. Students will discuss the article with classmates and create a T-chart to list the arguments in support of the bombings. Later, arguments against the bombings will be added to the chart.

Pro Bomb Article:
https://www.authentichistory.com/1939-1945/1-war/4-Pacific/4-abombdecision/2-support/

2. Next, students will be exposed to the Japanese perspective through an article about a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. Students will also analyze before and after pictures from the bombings, maps which detail the casualties as a result of the bombings, and art created by survivors of the bombings. Students will discuss their findings with classmates and add arguments against the bombings to their T-chart.

Article from Survivor:
Masaya Nemoto, “Story of Hiroshima: Life of an Atomic Bomb Survivor,” Education About ASIA, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Fall 2015).
https://www.fpri.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hibakusha.pdf

Hiroshima Panoramas (Before/After Pictures):
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-06/hiroshima-atomic-bombing-panorama-interactive-images/6642730

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Bomb Maps:
https://www.hiroshima-remembered.com/maps/

Atomic Bomb Art- Hiroshima/Nagasaki:
https://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/groundzero1945/gz_essay01.html

3. Next, students will read an article outlining alternatives to dropping the bombs and other arguments against the bombings. Additionally, students will read an article which argues that intimidating the Soviet Union and ensuring the United States’ sole influence in post-war Japan were ulterior motives for dropping the atomic bombs. Lastly, students will read an article which suggests Japan was already defeated and preparing to surrender prior to the dropping of the two atomic bombs. Students will, again, discuss their findings with classmates and add to their T-chart. At this point, students will write a short opinion on the bombings, arguing whether or not they should have occurred. This opinion should include which would have been the best option for ending the war- dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a demonstration bomb off the coast, waiting for the Soviets to declare war on Japan, easing the conditions of surrender, or continuing conventional bombing and prepare for a land invasion of Japan- and an explanation supporting their opinion. At this point, students will participate in a class debate to determine which option has the most support and to challenge the thinking of each other in order to solidify opinions.

Arguments Against and Alternatives to Bombs Article:
https://www.authentichistory.com/1939-1945/1-war/4-Pacific/4-abombdecision/3-against/

Intimidating the Soviet Union Article:
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/atomic

Japan Defeated and Prepared to Surrender Article:
https://www.ihr.org/jhr/v16/v16n3p-4_weber.html

4. Next, students will explore various ideas surrounding nuclear proliferation and nuclear weapons in the modern world. First, students will read an article outlining the history of nuclear weapons. Second, students will watch two videos explaining some of the threats/problems which result from nuclear proliferation. Third, students will analyze a map of countries with nuclear capabilities along with a nuclear attack simulation website. Fourth, students will read an article which assesses the validity of possessing nuclear weapons in the modern world. Based on their investigations, students will start to form an opinion about nuclear weapons. As their opinions form, students will record information to support their thoughts.

Outline of the Nuclear Age Article:

Teaching the Nuclear Age: A History Institute for Teachers

Threats/Problems with Nuclear Weapons:
https://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/cirincione/jci10.php
https://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/nichols/tn5.php

Map of Countries with Weapons:
https://www.choices.edu/resources/documents/nw-mapping-map.pdf

Nuke Map Simulation:
https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/

Nuclear Deterrence and Terrorism Article:

Does Nuclear Deterrence Apply in the Age of Terrorism?

5. Students will investigate the actions being taken to prevent nuclear proliferation by various world leaders and organizations. First, students will watch two videos with President Obama from the United States, Prime Minister Cameron from the United Kingdom, and President Hollande of France speaking about ending the use of nuclear weapons. Students will also analyze excerpts from an interview with President Obama in which he discusses various issues dealing with nuclear weapons. Next, students will watch a video of Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump debating what should be done about nuclear weapons. Additionally, students will watch a video of former President of Brazil Fernando Henrique speaking about the reasons Brazil abandoned its nuclear weapons program.

Finally, students will use the United States’ State Department website to research the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Student will investigate the goals of the treaty, which countries have signed the treaty, the strategies being implemented to encourage nonproliferation, the level of support of the treaty by various countries, and the effects the treaty has had.

Video of Presidents and Transcript of Obama Interview:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/03/31/president-obama-how-we-can-make-our-vision-world-without-nuclear-weapons-reality

Clinton-Trump Debate:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/trump-clinton-debate-current-nuclear-weapons-policy-42379558

Fernando Henrique on Why Brazil Gave Up Nuclear Weapons:
https://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/cardoso/fhc10.php

United States’ State Department Website on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty:
https://www.state.gov/t/isn/npt/index.htm

6. The final component of this lesson is for students to create an advocacy or awareness project in which students will argue against the use of nuclear weapons. The format of this project is to be chosen by the students. Students can write a letter, write a speech, create a presentation, record a video, write an essay, create an online campaign, or come up with any other format of their choosing. This project should include a detailed explanation of the problems associated with nuclear weapons and a plan to discontinue their existence throughout the world. This will include suggestions for domestic and foreign policies to address questions such as: What should the United States do with the nuclear weapons it currently possesses? How should the United States work with other nuclear countries to properly disarm and dispose of the weapons each possesses? How should the United States handle countries which currently possess nuclear capabilities but do not cooperate with denuclearization policies? How should the United States handle countries currently attempting to obtain nuclear capabilities? How should countries hold each other accountable in their disarmament and disposal of nuclear weapons? The purpose of this project is to get students to think critically about the use of nuclear weapons and their effects on the global community and take a stand against their use. With this, students are actively engaged in the political process and encouraging support for their point of view.

Conclusions:
This lesson has several purposes. First, students will become aware of the bias behind the American view of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Second, students will build empathy for the victims of the bombings. Finally, students will actively participate in the movement to end nuclear proliferation and prevent the future use of nuclear weapons.

Ultimately, the goal of the project is for students to encourage support for the elimination of nuclear weapons. However, as mentioned in the objectives and background information, students are able to argue in support of nuclear weapons if they hold the belief that they are necessary.

With the large amount of sources provided, it is possible to cut some of the content where appropriate. It is also possible to add additional videos, speeches, etc. to add to the information already included.

In order to reduce the amount of time required, this project could be broken into parts and each part could be assigned to a group. The groups would go through the steps listed in their part and present their findings to the other groups.

As a scaffolding, guided notes or graphic organizers could be created to help support students in their investigations.

During the second part of the lesson, many books are available to students who have interest in further exploring the Japanese perspective of the bombings. While in Japan, I was given Summer Cloud: A-bomb Experience of a Girls’ School in Hiroshima and My Hiroshima, which both provide the survivors’ perspective at an appropriate reading level. Full citations are listed in the sources section below. Additional survivor or scholarly sources are plentiful.

For creative or artistic students, they have the opportunity to create their own art focused on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing and the nonproliferation movement.

The best opportunity for extension is for students to take action with their advocacy/awareness project. Posting a project online, sending a letter to a government representative, starting a petition or campaign online are all options for students to put their ideas into action.

Sources obtained directly from FPRI’s website:

Garfinkle, A. (2009). Does nuclear deterrence apply in the age of terrorism. Retrieved from https://www.fpri.org/article/2009/05/does-nuclear-deterrence-apply-in-the-age-of-terrorism/

Kuehner, T. (2009). Teaching the nuclear age: A history institute for teachers. Retrieved from https://www.fpri.org/article/2009/04/teaching-the-nuclear-age-a-history-institute-for-teachers/

Nemoto, M. (2015). Story of Hiroshima: Life of an atomic bomb survivor. Education About ASIA, 20(2). Retrieved from https://www.fpri.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hibakusha.pdf

Sources obtained during FPRI study tour in Japan:

Hiroshima Jogakuin Jr. & Sr. High School (1992). Summer cloud: A-bomb experience of a girls’ school in hiroshima. Tokyo: Sanyusha Shuppan.

Morimoto, J. (2005). My hiroshima. Japan: Book-ing, Tokyo.

Other Sources:

ABC News (2016). Trump, Clinton debate current nuclear weapons policy. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/trump-clinton-debate-current-nuclear-weapons-policy-42379558

AJ Software and Multimedia. (2005). Hiroshima & Nagasaki remembered. Retrieved from https://www.hiroshima-remembered.com/maps/

Barnes, M. (2013). Arguments against the Bomb. Retrieved from https://www.authentichistory.com/1939-1945/1-war/4-Pacific/4-abombdecision/3-against/

Barnes, M. (2013) Arguments in support of the bomb. Retrieved from
https://www.authentichistory.com/1939-1945/1-war/4-Pacific/4-abombdecision/2-support/

Cardoso, F. H. (n. d.) Why did Brazil end its nuclear weapons program? Retrieved form https://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/cardoso/fhc10.php

Cirincioni, J. (n.d.). What are the major threats we face from nuclear weapons today?. Retrieved from https://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/cirincione/jci10.php

Dower, J. W. (2008). Ground zero 1945: Pictures by atomic bomb survivors. Retrieved from https://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/groundzero1945/gz_essay01.html

Leiro, S. (2016). President Obama: “How we can make our vision of a world without nuclear weapons a reality. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/03/31/president-obama-how-we-can-make-our-vision-world-without-nuclear-weapons-reality

Liddy, M. (2015). Hiroshima anniversary: Interactive images show impact of first atom bomb. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-06/hiroshima-atomic-bombing-panorama-interactive-images/6642730

Nichols, T. (n.d.) What problems do we face from nuclear weapons. Retrieved at https://www.choices.edu/resources/scholarsonline/nichols/tn5.php

The Choices Program (2013). Nuclear weapons 2013. Retrieved from https://www.choices.edu/resources/documents/nw-mapping-map.pdf

U.S. Department of State (n.d.). Atomic diplomacy. Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/atomic

U.S. Department of State (n. d.). Nuclear nonproliferation treaty. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/t/isn/npt/index.htm

Weber, M. (1997). Was Hiroshima necessary? Why the atomic bombing could have been avoided. The Journal of Historical Review, 16(3). Retrived from https://www.ihr.org/jhr/v16/v16n3p-4_weber.html

Wellerstein, J. (2012). Nukemap. Retrieved from https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/