What qualifies as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD)?

A Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) is any weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction on a massive scale. They are typically classified into four categories: Nuclear (atomic bombs), Biological (viruses like anthrax), Chemical (gases like mustard gas), and Radiological ('dirty bombs').

Why was Hiroshima chosen as a target?

Hiroshima was chosen because it was a major military center with factories, supply depots, and troop concentrations. However, it had also been largely untouched by previous bombing raids, which allowed the U.S. military to accurately measure the destructive power of the atomic bomb on an intact city.

What is the 'Manhattan Project'?

The Manhattan Project was the top-secret U.S. government research project (1942-1946) that developed the world's first atomic bombs. Led by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves, it culminated in the Trinity Test and the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Who are the 'Hibakusha'?

'Hibakusha' is the Japanese term for the surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It translates to 'explosion-affected people.' They have suffered from long-term health effects due to radiation exposure and have been powerful advocates for nuclear disarmament.

Hiroshima & WMDs: History Essay Guide

Hiroshima & WMDs: The Dawn of the Nuclear Age

You have a history assignment on “Weapons of Mass Destruction,” specifically focusing on Hiroshima. This is not just a paper about a bomb; it is a paper about the moment humanity gained the power to destroy itself.

To write this paper, you must understand the context of 1945. You need to analyze the scientific race (The Manhattan Project), the military strategy (Operation Downfall vs. The Bomb), and the profound ethical questions that still haunt us today. This assignment bridges history, ethics, and political science.

This guide is your complete resource. We will define WMDs, provide a detailed breakdown of the Hiroshima bombing, and include a full sample research paper written in APA 7 style. This page shows how our research paper writers approach complex historical topics.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Categories and Context

Before zooming in on Hiroshima, you must define the category. A Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) is a weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction. They are typically categorized as:

Chemical: Using toxic chemicals (e.g., Mustard Gas in WWI).
Biological: Using pathogens (e.g., Anthrax).
Radiological: Using conventional explosives to spread radiation (“Dirty Bombs”).
Nuclear: Using nuclear fission or fusion (e.g., The Atomic Bomb).

The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima was a nuclear weapon, the most destructive of all WMDs. It was the result of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret U.S. government program led by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. This project culminated in the “Trinity Test” in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, changing warfare forever.

Full Sample Essay: The Day the Sun Rose Twice

Here is a complete, 5-page (1200+ word) sample research paper. It analyzes the strategic decision, the event itself, and the ethical aftermath.

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The Day the Sun Rose Twice: An Analysis of the Hiroshima Bombing and the Ethics of Mass Destruction

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The Day the Sun Rose Twice: An Analysis of the Hiroshima Bombing and the Ethics of Mass Destruction

On August 6, 1945, the nature of warfare changed fundamentally. At 8:15 AM, an American B-29 bomber named the Enola Gay dropped a single uranium-based atomic bomb, codenamed “Little Boy,” over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Within seconds, the city was leveled, and tens of thousands of lives were extinguished. This event marked the first use of a nuclear weapon in combat and the dawn of the atomic age. The bombing of Hiroshima was the culmination of the Manhattan Project and a desperate strategic move to end World War II without a costly invasion of the Japanese mainland. However, its legacy is one of profound ethical ambiguity. This paper will analyze the historical context of the decision to use the bomb, detail the immediate and long-term devastation of Hiroshima, and explore the enduring ethical debate regarding the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) against civilian populations.

The Strategic Context: Operation Downfall vs. The Bomb

By the summer of 1945, Nazi Germany had surrendered, but the war in the Pacific raged on. Japan, though militarily crippled, refused to surrender unconditionally. The Allies faced a grim choice. The planned invasion of Japan, codenamed Operation Downfall, was projected to result in over one million American casualties and millions of Japanese deaths (Atomic Heritage Foundation, 2019). The Japanese military had mobilized the civilian population, training women and children to fight with bamboo spears, signaling a fight to the total extinction of the nation.

President Harry S. Truman was faced with the “least bad” option. The atomic bomb offered a way to shock the Japanese leadership into surrender without a ground invasion. The Potsdam Declaration, issued on July 26, 1945, warned Japan of “prompt and utter destruction” if they did not surrender. Japan’s silence was interpreted as a rejection. Thus, the decision was made to use the new weapon not just as a tactical bomb, but as a psychological tool of terror to force a political decision.

August 6, 1945: The Destruction of Hiroshima

Hiroshima was chosen as a target because it was a major military center with factories and supply depots, yet it had been largely untouched by previous bombing raids. This would allow the U.S. to accurately measure the bomb’s destructive power. “Little Boy” exploded 1,900 feet above the city with the force of 15,000 tons of TNT. The effects were instantaneous and catastrophic. The fireball, hotter than the surface of the sun, vaporized people near the hypocenter, leaving only “nuclear shadows” etched into stone. A shockwave leveled 70% of the city’s buildings, and a subsequent firestorm consumed the rest.

Approximately 70,000 to 80,000 people died instantly. Another 70,000 died by the end of the year from injuries and radiation. The victims, known as Hibakusha, faced horrors unknown to human history: skin melting from their bodies, extreme thirst, and a mysterious illness that caused hair loss and internal bleeding—acute radiation syndrome (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, n.d.). The bomb did not just destroy a city; it dismantled the biological and social fabric of the community.

The Ethical Legacy

The bombing of Hiroshima remains one of the most debated events in history. Proponents argue it was a “necessary evil” that saved lives by ending the war early. They point to the fanaticism of the Japanese defense at Iwo Jima and Okinawa as proof that an invasion would have been a bloodbath. Critics, however, argue that Japan was already defeated and seeking a way to surrender (specifically wanting to keep their Emperor). They contend that the bombing was a war crime—the deliberate targeting of a civilian population—and a geopolitical move to intimidate the Soviet Union at the start of the Cold War.

Regardless of the justification, Hiroshima established a terrifying precedent: humanity now possessed the technology to destroy itself. It led to the nuclear arms race and the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). Today, the legacy of Hiroshima serves as a grim warning about the cost of total war.

Conclusion

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima was a pivotal moment that ended the deadliest conflict in human history but opened a new era of existential fear. It demonstrated the terrifying efficiency of weapons of mass destruction. While the strategic decision spared the U.S. from a costly invasion, the humanitarian cost was paid by the civilians of Hiroshima. The event forces us to confront the moral limits of warfare and the responsibility that comes with god-like power.

References

Atomic Heritage Foundation. (2019). *Debate over the bomb*. https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/debate-over-bomb

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (n.d.). *The spirit of Hiroshima*. http://hmm.jp/en/

How to Write This Paper

The sample paper above is a strong “A” paper. Here is why it works, and how you can replicate it.

1. Use Primary Sources and Specific Details

Don’t just say “the bomb was big.” Use specific details: “Little Boy,” “1,900 feet above the city,” “15,000 tons of TNT.” Use the term Hibakusha. These details show you have done deep research.

2. Balance the Perspectives

A good history paper is objective. You must present the American perspective (saving lives, ending the war) AND the Japanese perspective (suffering, civilian death). The sample paper does this in the “Strategic Context” and “Ethical Legacy” sections.

3. Connect to the Broader Theme

The prompt is about “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” The paper connects Hiroshima to this theme by defining it as the “dawn of the atomic age” and discussing the “nuclear arms race.” It answers the “so what?” question.

How Our Experts Can Help You

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Hiroshima & WMDs: History Essay Guide