Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
By: Alex Werling
Background
During the beginning of World War Two the U.S. was isolating them self from the war. Then Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. This started the Pacific War. The United States fought its way through the islands leading up to Japan. The were determined to take Japan out of the war.
Media's Portrayal
The media portrayed the bombing as a huge victory for the Allies. All of the articles described how the bomb was equal to "the blast of 20,000 tons of TNT." They ignored the fact that it killed thousands of innocent people.
The media also portrayed at as an act of terrorism. The bomb wiped out more than 60% of the entire city. Killing 90,000 to 160,000 people. Most of these casualties being civilians.
Biases
In the years leading up to the bombing and the following years their was a bias. It was that Americans didn't care about the casualties or damage done. Everybody from the era were infuriated from the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Criticisms
There cultural criticism around the bombing. Everyone in America believed that the Japanese deserved to pay for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Now looking back on it the bombing was horrifying moment in history.
Citations
Carnell, Brian. "Civilians Should Not Be Targeted to Spare Combatants." War. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 May 2015.