Why did President Truman decide to drop the first atomic bomb?(2 points)

Question

Responses

to justify the expense of the Manhattan project
to justify the expense of the Manhattan project

to destroy Japan's power to make war
to destroy Japan's power to make war

to retaliate against the Bataan Death March
to retaliate against the Bataan Death March

to destroy Japanese culture

Answer 1

President Truman decided to drop the first atomic bomb primarily to destroy Japan's power to make war. This was seen as a way to force Japan to surrender unconditionally and bring an end to World War II, thereby saving lives in the long run by potentially avoiding a costly ground invasion. The other options, while they reflect various sentiments around the context of the war, do not align with the primary motivations behind the decision to use the atomic bomb.