In this assignment, you are going to use the sources provided to consider President Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan to end WWII. The readings provided include the Correspondence between Harry S. Truman and James Cate, with attached White House memos, December 6, 1952,and Berstein, Barton J. “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered” Foreign Affairs 74, no. 1 (Jan.-Feb., 1995): 136-152.
Historians use a variety of sources to develop an understanding of the past. However, most sources can be divided into two main categories – primary and secondary sources. For more on how to distinguish between these categories of sources, click on the following link: Primary vs. Secondary Sources — Understanding the difference to avoid incorrect citations
You will write your answers to the following questions and save them to your desktop as either a Word document (.doc) or a PDF file (.pdf). You will submit your file to the assignment dropbox in eCampus.
For full credit on this assignment, adhere to the following directions:
PART I: Primary Sources
1. Read the Correspondence between Harry S. Truman and James Cate, with attached White House memos, December 6, 1952. (The first picture in the links)
2. Once you have read this source, answer the questions below in complete sentences. While the length will vary, the answer to each question should be at least one well-developed paragraph.
Why is this source categorized as a primary source? Explain your rationale.
Based on this source, what do you believe were the most important reasons Truman decided to use the atomic bomb against Japan in WWII? You do not have to summarize all the information mentioned in the document, but you should address two or three key points. Explain in detail.
What biases might have influenced the authors of this document? Explain in detail.
PART II: Secondary Sources
1. Read Barton J. Bernstein, “The Atomic Bombings Reconsidered.” (2nd picture)
2. Once you have read this source, answer the questions below in complete sentences. While the length of your answer will vary, the answer to each question should be at least one well-developed paragraph.
Why is this source considered a secondary source? Explain your rationale.
Based on this source, what additional information, if any, did you learn about the use of the Atomic Bombs?
PART III: Historiography
Watch the video What is Historiography? presented by Dr. Mark Bowles.
Note: If underlined link does not work, copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://youtu.be/au4zrIx4sIw?si=KP3lzbkzTwkCagOJ
2. Read Cheng, Eileen Ka-May. “Exceptional History? The Origins of Historiography in the United States.” History and Theory 47, no. 2 (2008): 200–228.
3. Once you have viewed the video and read the article, answer the question below in complete sentences. While the length of your answer will vary, the answer to each question should be at least one well-developed paragraph.
Why is historiography important to our understanding of history?
( I will post pictures and/or links for the articles and videos.)
1. I will post the pictures for secondary vs primary sources.
2. Then I will post in order each link from the part 1 to part 3.
3. If any of the links or anything doesn’t make sense just let me know or you can try to look it up on your own just follow the instructions.
4. I will also put part 1,2,3 on the pictures so you know which one to use. Part 1 is only 1 page of reading and part is about 18 pages. Part 3 is an article and a video.
Part 3: here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/au4zrIx4sIw?si=KP3lzbkzTwkCagOJ
Or look up what is historiography by mark bowels. The article will be posted in pictures and is about 30 pages.
