Transcript WWII Begins

Atomic Bomb Debate
You will need…
•ONE sheet of lined paper
•Your research notes from the
Atomic Bomb Blendspace homework
You may use your Blendspace
research AND what you do today
when writing the Atomic Bomb
“DBQ” on Friday 3/27!
Did the US have to drop atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Get out your handout from your Atomic Bomb
Blendspace research.
 Create a T-Chart on your lined sheet of paper
 Left Side: - SUPPORT – Truman MADE the
RIGHT decision
 Right Side: - OPPOSE – There were
OTHER options
 Using your research notes complete the chart.
(15 minutes)

Discussion…
 Let’s
see if you came up with what
I came up with!

(15 minutes)
Did Truman make the right decision? YES

SUPPORT
Land invasion would cost too many American
lives
 Quickest way to end the war
 Revenge for Pearl Harbor and barbaric treatment
of POWs
 Japanese “fight to the death” mentality
 Two billion dollars spent on Manhattan project
 Militarists planning coup to topple pro-surrender
gov’t
 Civilians had been targeted throughout war; no
worse than bombing raids

Did Truman make the right decision? NO

OPPOSE/OTHER OPTIONS
Immoral weapon
 Japanese were ready to surrender
 Scientists and leaders cautioned against its use
 Continue conventional bombing and blockade
 Demonstrate the bomb
 Wait for USSR to enter
 Negotiate peace
 Keep the emperor concession

Claims & Counter Claims
Was the decision to drop the
Atomic Bomb justified?
1.
2.
3.
Find a partner. One person will SUPPORT
Truman’s decision to drop the bomb and the other
will OPPOSE
Using your “T” Chart info, write a justification
for your side in 3 – 4 sentences on your paper.
(10 min.)
Trade papers with your partner.
Write a counterclaim to their argument in 3 – 4
sentences on their paper (tell them why their points
are wrong, weak, or flawed and add specifics from
your side) (5 min.)
 Trade back, read what they wrote, and then rebut
the counterclaim – explain why it’s flawed using as
many specifics as you can. (5 min.)

Your opinion
 Truman’s
decision to use atomic
weapons against Japan is one of the
most controversial choices made in
history. In retrospect, do you think
Truman made the right decision when
he authorized the use of atomic
weapons?

(10 minutes)
Four Corners Debate
You
will be numbered 1-4.
Read the prompt associated
with your number and write
down your opinion with
specific reasons. (5 min)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rather than use the atomic bomb on populated
areas, the US should have conducted a noncombat demonstration of power.
Rather than use the atomic bomb strategy, the
US should have modified their unconditional
surrender.
Rather than use the atomic bomb, the US
should have continued their traditional
bombing tactics.
Rather than use the atomic bomb, the US
should have conducted a land invasion of
Japan’s home islands.
Four Corners Debate
MOVE
to your corner based
on your number.
Divide in half…in two
small groups.
Discuss as a group/share
out one reason you wrote
down. (10 min)
Four Corners Debate
Go
back to your seats.
Volunteer from each of the
four corners will share out
what they discussed.
 (10
minutes)