Question
Document F
Source: President Harry Truman, “Radio Report to the American People,” August 9, 1945.
Note: This radio address was given on August 9, 1945, just after the Soviets declared war against Japan and only hours after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb. Its production and its use were not lightly undertaken by this government. But we knew that our enemies were on the search for it. We know now how close they were to finding it…. We won the race for discovery against the Germans.
Having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned the pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.
Document number or letter
Source (Where did the document come from?)
Author of the Document
Source: (Primary or Secondary)
Main Idea of the Document
Key quote, image or data
justified or unjustified
Source: President Harry Truman, “Radio Report to the American People,” August 9, 1945.
Note: This radio address was given on August 9, 1945, just after the Soviets declared war against Japan and only hours after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb. Its production and its use were not lightly undertaken by this government. But we knew that our enemies were on the search for it. We know now how close they were to finding it…. We won the race for discovery against the Germans.
Having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned the pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.
Document number or letter
Source (Where did the document come from?)
Author of the Document
Source: (Primary or Secondary)
Main Idea of the Document
Key quote, image or data
justified or unjustified
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Document Analysis
**Document number or letter:** Document F
**Source (Where did the document come from?):** President Harry Truman, “Radio Report to the American People,” August 9, 1945.
**Author of the Document:** President Harry S. Truman
**Source (Primary or Secondary):** Primary Source
**Main Idea of the Document:** President Truman addresses the American public to explain the significance of the atomic bomb and justifies its use against Japan. He emphasizes the necessity of the bomb in hastening the end of World War II and in saving American lives.
**Key quote, image, or data:** “We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.”
**Justified or Unjustified:** Justified - Truman argues from a perspective of military necessity and the desire to save lives by preventing further casualties in a protracted war.
**Document number or letter:** Document F
**Source (Where did the document come from?):** President Harry Truman, “Radio Report to the American People,” August 9, 1945.
**Author of the Document:** President Harry S. Truman
**Source (Primary or Secondary):** Primary Source
**Main Idea of the Document:** President Truman addresses the American public to explain the significance of the atomic bomb and justifies its use against Japan. He emphasizes the necessity of the bomb in hastening the end of World War II and in saving American lives.
**Key quote, image, or data:** “We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.”
**Justified or Unjustified:** Justified - Truman argues from a perspective of military necessity and the desire to save lives by preventing further casualties in a protracted war.