World Civ. Honors: Cause and Effect: Throughout our study of history, one thing always remains constant - Cause and Effect. As we have often discussed in class, history does no...
I feel the most important event in history was the creation of the Atomic Bomb. Before the atomic bomb was created, the only weapons that were available were things such as swords, guns, and poison gas. These were enough to cause a Depression, a World War, and many casualties. But, what could be more terrifying than all this catastrophe? How about something that can wipe out a whole country in less than a minute, and leave devastating post-war effects? Even if you are lucky enough to survive the atomic bomb, you will suffer from ionizing radiation exposure.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, there was a surprise military attack carried out by the Japanese at Pearl harbor, Hawaii. I feel, if the Japanese had never attacked us, and tensions in Germany were low, we most likely would never have created the Atomic Bomb. However, the Emperor of Japan did not back down and decided to keep sending out military forces. America was forced to retaliate using NEW technology that had not been tested yet. The United States, United Kingdom, and China tried to negotiate, but Japan was not persuaded. America threatened to bring an end to the Empire with "prompt and utter destruction". This is exactly what they did on August 6, 1945. The first nuclear warfare weapon was unleashed on Hiroshima Japan. The 2nd being just 3 days later in Nagasaki. Within just 2 months of the nuclear attack, the effects killed approximately 166,000 people in Hiroshima, and 80,000 in Nagasaki. During the following months,many people died from the effects of severe burns, and/or radiation sickness. Sadako Sasaki is an example of post-war trauma.
Sadako Sasaki was just 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. However, the post-war effects did not begin to show until she reached the age of 12. She began to get dizzy-spells, and purple rashes. She was diagnosed with leukemia. At that time, many other children also suffered from leukemia do to the effects of war.
This was the first, and only time in history, that nuclear weapons were used on an opposing force. The post-war effects of the atomic bomb left Japan in shambles. Slowly, we helped them rebuild their society.
If America was ever attacked with nuclear warfare like Japan, it would be a long and difficult road to rebuild. There would be many casualties like in 1945, and billions of dollars lost. Ultimately, I feel the atomic bomb has changed the way our society feels, and acts towards war. In ways it keeps us safer, but in other ways it also makes it a dangerous world to live in. -Thomas Hindle
