Lesson
Was the Use of the Atomic Bomb Justified? DBQ
Use this lesson with The Manhattan Project Narrative and the Dropping the Atomic Bomb Decision Point to show the development of the United States' nuclear program and subsequent use in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
Objectives:
- Students will examine the arguments for and against the use of the atomic bomb on Japan in August of 1945.
- Students will systematically analyze primary sources by annotating each document.
- Students will write a DBQ essay that responds to a document-based question prompt.
Materials
Lesson Components
ActivityPrimary Sources Use of the Atomic Bomb
Seven sources to help students evaluate the use of the atomic bomb on Japan during World War II and a culminating essay activity.
Lesson plan
65 minClick a phase to open it
More Information
This lesson has students practice the skills needed to write a timed DBQ essay; therefore, comprehension questions are not included for the documents as they have been for previous DBQs in this resource.
Standards
Advanced Placement
- Topic 7.13 · World War II: Military
- Theme · America in the World
- Learning Objective · Unit 7M
- Historical Development · 7.3.III.D
- Reasoning Skill · Developments and Processes
- Reasoning Skill · Sourcing and Situation
- Reasoning Skill · Source Claims and Evidence
- Reasoning Skill · Contextualization
- Reasoning Skill · Making Connections
- Reasoning Skill · Argumentation
- Reasoning Process · Causation
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Related materials
EssayDropping the Atomic Bomb
By the end of this section, you will explain the causes and effects of the victory of the United States and its allies over the Axis Powers.
