“Letter from the Future to Harry S. Truman” Assignment United States President Harry S. Truman is the only leader of a nation to authorize the use of nuclear warfare against another nation. It was probably the most difficult decision of his life. For this assignment, you are to write a letter to President Truman advising him of the consequences a decision to use nuclear warfare will have on the world—you are welcome to choose whether you advise him to drop the bomb or to not drop the bomb. But regardless of your position, you must include the following topics:

• War conditions as of July 1945—who was in a position to help the United States in the Pacific Theater, was Japan in a condition to continue the war, how many people had died in the Pacific Theater to date
• Descriptions of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—how many people lived there, what were the cities known for (industrial and historical), where were the cities located in relations to other sites
• Mention of the possible political repercussions—including theories that it was racially motivated, theories that it was politically motivated to send a message to the Soviet Union, Cold War arms race
• Description of the physical and humanitarian effects—for this section, you may include photographs to prove your point of the destruction reaped on the cities as well as eye-witness accounts of the destruction reaped on humanity—include immediate and long-term effects

Be sure to use facts on these topics to advise the president of what he should or should not do. Keep in mind the state of the person to whom you are writing (as the president, he was the head of the military) and address your arguments in a manner that will garner the most attention from a person in that state. Submit your assignment when finished.