Question

Look at these sources.

Encyclopedia Britannica
the unit about World War II in a history textbook
a book written in 1995 about the last two months of the war
a newspaper article from August 1945 about the bombing of Hiroshima

A student is writing an argumentative essay taking the stance that Truman was right to use the atomic bomb against Japan during World War II. Which of the following would be most useful as an additional source for the essay?
a book about the entire history of Japan
the website for the Truman Library and Museum
a letter from an American soldier who fought in Okinawa
a magazine article from August 1945 about the Hiroshima bombing

Answer 1

Best choice: the website for the Truman Library and Museum.

Why: it contains primary documents (Truman’s statements, memoranda, meeting notes, casualty estimates, and policy papers) and authoritative archival material explaining the administration’s rationale. Those sources directly support an essay arguing Truman’s decision was justified and let you cite his own reasoning and contemporaneous government evidence.

Brief note on the others:
- Letter from an American soldier at Okinawa: useful as a supporting primary anecdote about invasion costs, but narrower in scope.
- Magazine article from Aug 1945: a contemporary reaction source, but you already have a newspaper article from that time.
- Book about the entire history of Japan: too broad and less directly relevant to Truman’s decision in 1945.