APUSH+Hiroshima

On August 6, 1945, the United States [|dropped a highly advanced atomic bomb] on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, [|in an attempt] to get the enemy nation to surrender after World War Two. Germany had signed the Potsdam Declaration, ending the war. However, the Japanese leader, Hirohito, refused to sign the treaty. [|The United States responed with extreme force]. Dubbed "Little Boy" by officials, the bomb's immense power destroyed 90% of the city of Hiroshima and killed between 70, 000 and 80,000 residents upon impact, although tens of thousands more died of radiation exposure and injuries sustained during the blast. The explosion bathed the area in radiation and fire. The effect was devastating on a human scale. Even today, radiation is still present in the area, and residents of the area suffer mutations, pyschological problems, and many other devastating reminders of the atomic bomb. However, the drop of the bomb did provide some benefits. It caused the Emperor Hirohito to surrender, supported the view of the United States as a military powerhouse, and ensured further security. The loss of life was still devastating. It helped put into perspective the power that a very small, select group of people can wield.