The question of the necessity of the use of nuclear weapons over Japan has been continuously debated from the moment of their impact to the modern day. To determine if the proper decision was made, one must understand the goals for which the bombs were used. American strategy required that the war be ended with a total victory, and at a minimum of American casualties. Despite lingering moral issues regarding their use, an examination of the alternative shows that the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were indeed necessary to bring the Pacific war to closure.

Prior to General Groves' order to drop the bombs, alternative strategies were carefully considered, but each had significant flaw that made them work contrary to America's stated goals. An invasion of the Japanese mainland, in a manner similar to the rest of the island-hopping campaign, was approved by President Truman and scheduled for a November 1945 start. While the military was confident that such an operation would result in American victory, the cost of tens of thousands of American lives was more than Truman was readily willing to pay. The naval forces proposed a blockade to prevent the import of supplies, including foodstuffs, but this strategy was by no means a guarantee of a timely end to the war. Air forces proposed an increased reliance on firebombing, burning Japanese cities using newly created incendiary bombs. While there had been great success with this program, especially on the capital City of Tokyo, dozens of cities had been heavily damaged without shaking the resolve of Japanese. Additionally, the ineffectiveness of aerial bombing of Iwo Jima suggested that forces, and therefore casualties, on the ground would still be needed. Some high ranking officials held out hopes that the Soviet Union would enter the war, shocking the Japanese into surrender, but the political strings attached were deemed too great. America's alliance with the Russians was already showing signs of strain, and the administration wanted to avoid a conflict similar to the one over the fate of Poland. Despite a long list of options, none of them were effective at ending the war without causing undue hardship on American lives.

A final alternative, which had the greatest chances of success and also the greatest risk, was the modification of the terms of unconditional surrender. The fanatical devotion of the Japanese people to their emperor was a primary reason for their fighting against impossible odds; an unconditional surrender would certainly mean dethroning or even death for their beloved ruler. Although the concession to allow the emperor to remain a part of the Japanese government would (and in fact did) placate the people, it also contained political risks. Concessions at the end of the First World War had left Germany with the ability to form a new, more powerful military. American interests required that Japan not rise again and challenge United States forces again. Another problem with the plan is the intense pressure from American voter. Simply put, common Americans wholeheartedly supported the terms of unconditional surrender, and a publicized modification of them would have been political suicide for Truman. Finally, there was the very possible risk that conceding anything to the Japanese would make the Americans appear war-weary, emboldening their government to continue the war and obtain further concessions. Despite its possibility for gaining the support of Japanese citizens, the modification of the terms of surrender would have been very risky, and could have completely fouled up the objectives of ending the war quickly and ensuring future peace.

In light of the plethora of drawbacks to any of the proposed solutions, the use of the atomic bomb seems justified. The use of the bombs would kill a comparable number of Japanese as a full-scale invasion, with little loss of American life. It was a quick solution, and could change the opinion of Japanese citizens and government very quickly. From a historical perspective, though, the bomb's greatest success was not in accomplishing military objectives, but, ironically, in bringing back humanity to both warring parties. After the drop of the second bomb, Truman ordered that no further nuclear weapons be used, in order to prevent killing Japanese kids, a term he had previously identified with American soldiers. The racial barriers between the two nations was lowered. Emperor Hirohito's radio address to his people and his subsequent acceptance of surrender stemmed from his newfound desire to prevent further loss of life. Despite the Soviet entry into the war, the planned invasion, years of firebombing, and thousands of deaths for both nations, the unprecedented speed of destruction caused by the atomic bomb shocked policymakers of both sides of the Pacific, leading to a better understanding of humanity and the end of the war.

In 1945, there were many proposals for how to continue the war against Japan. After looking at the costs and challenges of the alternatives, it becomes apparent that the only way to end the merciless war was to use the most destructive weapon humankind has ever developed, the atomic bomb.