Historical Context

Historical Context

("Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Ending the Nuclear Threat")

U.S. Battleship sinking during the attack on Pearl Harbor (Britannica).

Explosion captured during the attack on Pearl Harbor (History.com).

"The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, brought the United States officially into World War II. In the surprise attack, Japan sunk several ships, destroyed hundreds of planes and ended thousands of lives. The Japanese goal was to cripple the U.S. Pacific fleet, and they nearly succeeded. President Franklin Roosevelt called the attack 'a day which will live in infamy,' and the American people were shocked and angered." (Truman Presidential Museum & Library, "Background Essay on Decision to drop the Atomic Bomb")

Newspaper Article, December 8, 1914, "Chronicles of World War II"

The article reads: "Japan’s devastating opening blow of the Pacific war against the United States came plunging out of a sunny Hawaiian sky yesterday when 184 aircraft from six Japanese aircraft carriers of Vice-Admiral Chuichi Nagumo’s Strike Force caught American defenders completely unawares at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, at 7:55 am [local time] . . . This audacious operation designed to neutralize the Pacific Fleet in one blow succeeded in sinking four battleships in a total of 19 warships sunk or disabled. It destroyed 188 military aircraft and damaged 159, and killed 2,403 Americans, 1,000 of them in the battleship 'Arizona' which blew up and sunk at her mooring early in the attack. For the battle force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet it was an hour of doom . . . The big disappointment for the Japanese was the absence of the aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet, which were on manoeuvres at the time of the attack. By this action alone, the Japanese have proved the value of big carriers in any naval campaign." (December 8, 1941, "Chronicles of World War II")

The United States had maintained a foreign policy of isolationism during World War II since September, 1939. However, for most Americans, including active President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Japan had brought the war too close to home with their attack on Pearl Harbor.

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace . . . Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our Nation . . .No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the utmost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces- with the unbounding determination of our people- we will gain the inevitable triumph- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
~ President Roosevelt's speech to Congress, December 8, 1941

The first draft of Roosevelt's speech to Congress (left), compared to his final draft which was delivered on December 8, 1941 (right).

It is seen how the familiar description of "a date which will live in infamy" was not originally used. Instead, Roosevelt first claimed that the bombing of Pearl Harbor would live in "world history," but later made edits to produce the line recognized today. 

The U.S. officially declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941.

The Evening Times (Sayre, Pennsylvania), December 7, 1941.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 7, 1941.

The Nashville Tennessean, December 22, 1941.

Miami News-Record, December 8, 1941.

"The ensuing war was costly. Years of fighting brought the US armed forces closer and closer to Japan as they 'hopped' from one island to another. The Japanese were vicious fighters, however, and every victory cost more time, material, and, sadly, lives. The last major battle, the fight for Okinawa, lasted almost three months and took more than 100,000 Japanese and American lives.

After President Roosevelt died on April 12th , 1945, it became Harry Truman’s job to decide how to end the war. The thought of invading Japan gave Truman and his advisors pause. The war had shown that the Japanese were fighting for the Emperor who convinced them that it was better to die than surrender. Women and children had been taught how to kill with basic weapons. Japanese kamikaze pilots could turn planes into guided missiles. The cost of invasion, they knew, would be high." (Truman Presidential Museum & Library, "Background Essay on Decision to drop the Atomic Bomb")

Upon becoming President, Harry Truman was informed about the Manhattan Project, a secret effort to create an atomic bomb. If successful, the bomb would give Truman access to a weapon that could single handedly bring war with Japan to an end. 

Letter from Henry Stimson to Harry S. Truman, April 24, 1945 (National Archives).

"Dear Mr. Preseident,

           I think it is very important that I should have a talk with you as soon as possible on a highly secret matter.

           I mentioned it [The Manhattan Project] to you shortly after you took office but have not urged it since on account of the pressure you have been under. It, however, has such a bearing on our present foriegn relations and has such an important effect upon all my thinking in this field that I think you ought to know about it without much further delay.

Faithfully yours,

Henry Stimson"

After a successful test of the atomic bomb, a group of world leaders, including the president, attended the Potsdam Conference from July to August of 1945, in order to finalize post-war agreements. On July 26, 1945, three of the attendants issued the Potsdam Declaration, which called for the unconditional surrender of Japan. For Truman, this was his last attempt at achieving peace with Japan before the use of the bomb.

Potsdam Declaration, July 26, 1945 (Diaoyu Doa: The Inherent Territory of China).

"(1) We, the President of the United States, the President of the National Government of the Republic of China and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, representing the hundreds of millions of our countrymen, have conferred and agree that Japan shall be given an opportunity to end this war.

(2) The prodigious land, sea and air forces of the United States, the British Empire and of China, many times reinforced by their armies and air fleets from the West are poised to strike the final blows upon Japan. This military power is sustained and inspired by the determination of all Allied nations to prosecute the war against Japan until she ceases to resist.

(3) The result of the futile and senseless German resistance to the might of the aroused free peoples of the world stands forth in awful clarity as an example to the people of Japan. The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid waste to the lands, the industry and the way of life of the whole German people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland.

(4) The time has come for Japan to decide whether she will continue to be controlled by those self-willed militaristic advisers whose unintelligent calculations have brought the Empire of Japan to the threshold of annihilation, or whether she will follow the path of reason.

(5) Following are our terms. We will not deviate from them. There are no alternatives. We shall not delay.

(6) There must be eliminated for perpetuity, the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest – for we insist that a new order of peace, security and justice will be impossible until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world.

(7) Until such a new order is established and until convincing proof that Japan's war-making power is destroyed, points in Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies shall be occupied to secure the achievement of the basic objectives we are here setting forth.

(8) The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine.

(9) Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives.

(10) We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners. The Japanese government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established.

(11) Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations for war. To this end, access to, as distinguished from control, of raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted.

(12) Occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established, in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people, a peacefully inclined and responsible government.

(13) We call upon the Government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction"

U.S. President Harry Truman (center), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (left), and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union (right), at the conference in Potsdam, Germany, August 1945 (Atomic Heritage Foundation).

Truman believed that the Potsdam Declaration would facilitate peace with Japan, and simultaneously eliminate a need to use the atomic bomb. That may have very well been the case, however, a miscommunication regarding Japan's response to the declaration would ultimately prevent that from taking place. 

Previous
Next