Rebuilding After World War II

Rebuilding after WWII

The Atomic Bomb Ends the War

• The Manhattan Project

• Ethical Question Remains: Should we use the bomb to end the war?

• Warned Japan that they would destroy them if they don't surrender

Hiroshima & Nagasaki

• August 6, 1942: Litle Boy dropped on Hiroshima

• August 9, 1942: Fat Man dropped on Nagasaki

• 200,000 died as a result of injuries/radiation from the bomb

• Japan surrenders September 2, 1942

Poll

Was it necessary to drop the atomic bombs on Japan?

• Yes

• No

Rebuilding Begins

The Yalta Conference

• February 1945 - Meeting of the Big Three (Churchill, Stalin & Roosevelt)

• Discussed the fate of Germany

Multiple Choice

This person believed that Germany should be treated harshly and divided into occupation zones

• Stalin

• Roosevelt

• Churchill

The Yalta Conference

• Temporary division of Germany into four zones

• Stalin promised free elections in Soviet-occupied countries

• Stalin agrees to join US in the war against Japan

• Agreed to participate in an international conference (United Nations)

Open Ended

Should the Nazis have been punished after WWII? How? What do you think would have been a fair punishment?

The Nuremberg War Trials

• 24 Nazi leaders put on trial for crimes against humanity, peace, and war crimes

• 12/24 were sentenced to death and most remained in prison 

• Eventually 200+ Nazis were found guilty of war crimes

• Established the idea that individuals were responsible for their own actions, even in times of war

The Occupation of Japan

• Occupied under the command of General Douglas MacArthur 

• 1,100 + Japanese officials were tried for atrocities and put to death (including the Prime Minister)

• Reshaped Japan’s economy with free-market practices

• Reshaped Japan's government with a constitution