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"Necessary Evil?" is a compelling play that delves into the moral and political complexities surrounding the United States' decision to deploy atomic bombs during World War II. Set against the backdrop of July 1945, it examines the conclusion of hostilities in Europe after the fall of Nazi Germany and America's strategic considerations in the Pacific, particularly regarding Japan. The play invites audiences to reflect on the unprecedented power of nuclear weapons and the ethical ramifications of their use in warfare, encapsulating a pivotal moment in history.
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Necessary Evil? A play about the United States and the decision to drop the atomic bomb.
World War Two – July, 1945 • The destruction of Nazi Germany by the Allied forces ended the fighting in Europe. • In the Pacific, Japan was desperately fighting a losing battle against America and her allies. • At Alamogordo, New Mexico, a new and secret weapon was about to be tested in the desert.
Los Alamos, New Mexico (site of Trinity Test) Spring, 1945
When he departed on July 7th, Truman had come to believe that the results of the test at Alamogordo would determine how he could accomplish that goal. He had no intention of employing the bomb as an instrument of diplomacy during the conference, but a successful test would assure him that he need make no politically embarrassing concessions.
REFERENCES: Slide 3: The Atomic Bomb Google Earth Project, Teaching American History Project, Portland State University (available for download at http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IMS/currentprojects/TAHv3/Atomic_Bomb.html). Slide 4: Enola Gay Crew (http://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/paul_tibbets/enola_gay_crew_3.jpg). Slide 5&8: Interior of the Enola Gay with Crew (http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/photos/b-29/250px-040315-F-9999G-003.jpg). Slide 6: White House Press Room, April 1945 (http://www.bremenbaseball.com/whm/west-wing/press-offices/press-offices-1945-japan-surrender.jpg). Slide 7: Los Alamos, New Mexico (http://www.life.com/image/72385149). Slide 9: Original footage of the Enola Gay and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, YouTube Video (22 seconds) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8uGiN_5wLg&feature=player_embedded)