There are several points missing from this source, however. We do not know the precise date of when the diary entry was written. We are told that it was in 1945, and before August 10th, but because we can not be certain of its exact date, we do not know when the attitude and plans described in the extract were experienced.
Also, we do not learn from Source C the other reasons as to why the bomb was dropped. For example, it is thought that the release of the bomb was to prevent America’s rivals, Russia, from taking any territory in the East.
Source C also contains statements which we now know not to be true. For instance, the source explains that the bomb was to be used for “purely military” reasons only. It was to be used against soldiers and military objects, and not women and children. However, we now know that the bomb, released in Hiroshima, killed thousands of women and children. This element of the source is useful to an historian, as it tells us that the intentions of the bomb had changed between the time the diary extract was made and its release. It could also mean that those directly in charge of the bomb simply did not take the wishes of President Truman into consideration.
As this diary extract was written by the President of the USA, it is useful as it is a rare source. It is also useful as it gives the reader an impression of how the President was feeling towards the release of the bomb, and because of his position within America, his opinions would be highly valued and would prove useful to an historian.
However, we must take into the consideration that the extract could have been taken out of context. As it is only an extract from the diary, parts could have been excluded in order to make the entry appear to be giving false information. We also must consider the purpose of the entry. Although it was a diary, and we assume that the President merely wished to keep track of events for personal reference, it may have been that he was conscious of the fact that his diary could eventually be published for the public to see. If this was the case, he may have written false or misleading information, in order to make himself a good reputation.
Source E is secondary, taken from Making History, a school textbook published in 1984.
It tells us that President Truman was “heavily criticised” for making the decision to drop the atomic bomb. This we know to be true. We are also told of two reasons as to why he reached this decision; one being that he wished the war to end quickly to prevent further loss of American life, the other that he hoped to prevent Russia from taking any territory in the East. It also mentions that critics of President Truman insisted that it was the creation of the bomb had cost so much money, that America dropped it in order to justify the amount. We now know these facts to be acceptable and reliable reasons, and therefore this aspect of the source is useful.
However, the source does not give us details of the warning issued to Japan, previous to the drop of the atomic bomb. We are also not told the date of the dropping of the bomb. The absences of these two vital facts make this aspect of the source un-useful.
Source E states that “70,000 Japanese died” and “hundreds more died from radiation sickness”. These figures are not accurate and are simply estimated. As well as this, although the reasons stated for the release of the bomb are likely, we can not be certain that President Truman ordered the release of the bomb to end the war quickly. Again, this is an assumption, and therefore is not useful to an historian.
As the source was written for a text book to be used by schoolchildren, we have to consider the fact that the language used may be simplified, in order to make it easier to understand. This could mean that facts or descriptions were not included in the source, which makes it less useful. On the other hand, it also means that the information included in the source was not written from a biased point of view, and does not contain prejudiced opinions.
As the text book was written in 1984, the researchers had time to gather various means of information, in order to produce the most accurate book possible for publication. This is a positive factor, as it means that a wide range of evidence and sources were studied, which gives a more general and accurate description.
Overall, I believe that both Sources, E and C, would be useful to an historian studying the reasons for the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945. Both sources contain valuable and accurate descriptions of events and their reasons. Although both also have their inaccuracies or faults, as well as doubtful statistics and purposes, they also have their advantages. Source C is useful, as it is a rare source and came directly from the President of the USA. As it was written close to the time of the release of the bomb, it would be useful to an historian, as it came from the time period they are studying. On the other hand, Source E is also useful, as it does not contain influenced opinions or purpose. It also contains information collected over several decades, which benefits the historian, as the facts contained in the source would more than likely be of a wider range and accuracy.
Nicola Crooks
