TOPIC: TRIAL OF HARRY TRUMAN
Historical Context: In the summer of 1945, President Harry Truman ordered the dropping of atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in an effort to force the end of World War II. Truman’s decision cost the lives of over 200,000 people, mostly civilians. However, Truman believed that he was saving American lives by avoiding an invasion of Japan.
Task: Harry Truman will be put on trial for crimes against humanity for his decision to drop the bomb. Is Truman guilty for ordering the murder of innocent civilians? Could he have found another way or warned the Japanese? Is Truman innocent of these charges? Did he do what any President would have done to end the war as quickly as possible? We will hold a mock trial in class that discusses both sides of this issue. You will be responsible for research of your role and helping your group win its argument. You will also hand in a one-page summary of your participation in the trial.
Procedure:
The class is divided into two groups: Prosecution (Harry Truman is guilty and should be convicted of murder) and Defense (Harry Truman is not guilty of murder, the bomb was a weapon that had to be used to save American lives).
All groups will receive an evidence packet on which to base your questions and statements. Students should also do additional research to uncover their own evidence to use at trial.
Both groups will select roles from the packet provided. Each side will have at least two (but no more than 4) attorneys that will argue their case. Attorneys will be responsible for making opening and closing statements and also questioning witnesses from both sides.
Each side will include four witnesses (and four “assistants”) that are responsible for creating questions for their lawyers to ask them during the trial. They may also come up with evidence to bolster their side that they can give to their lawyers to bring out at trial. They should also be prepared to answer questions they may be asked by attorneys for the other side.
Trial Procedure:
Prosecution presents their opening statements, followed by the Defense. These are done without interruption or objection.
Prosecution calls their witnesses and asks questions. When they are finished, the Defense has the opportunity to cross examine each witness.
When the Prosecution is finished presenting their case, the Defense will have the opportunity to call their own witnesses and the Prosecution will have the opportunity to cross examine each witness.
Evidence may be presented at any time during the trial.
When all witnesses and questions have been exhausted, the prosecution will offer their closing statements followed by the defense.
Grading:
You will be graded on the extent of your research and participation within your assigned group (25 points)
You will be graded on the questions/evidence you produce and your knowledge of your role during the trial (25 points)
You will hand in a one page (typed, double-spaced, 12 font Times New Roman) summary of your participation in the trial. The summary should include a description of your role, what you have learned during the trial and whether you agreed or disagreed with the verdict. (50 points)
THE TRIAL OF HARRY TRUMAN
Case #101 The People vs. Harry Truman
THE PROSECUTION
You will seek to prove that Harry Truman is guilty of crimes against humanity
Opening Statement: a statement given by the attorneys to explain what the prosecution team will prove during the trial
1. Hiroshima Survivor – Susuma Kimura (eye-witness)
You were a physician, age 40, when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (at 8:16 a.m.) You were inside your home, which was 1/1/2 miles from ground zero, when the bomb exploded. You recall seeing an intense light that flashed from yellow to red. You heard an eerily loud noise. You felt intense heat. As a result of the blast, you were thrown to the floor. Your clothes were transformed into rags. Your body suffered first and second degree burns, leaving you with scars on your face and arms. You have a photograph of yourself at this time.
Although you were burned, you were capable to tending to the wounds of other victims of the blast. Many victims were not as fortunate as you. They suffered serious third degree burns, blindness and radiation sickness. There was little you could do. Most of the people you cared for died.
You are now 47. Your daughter, who was 15 at the time and in your house when the bomb exploded, is now 22. She is married and has tried to conceive a child for 2 years, but has been unsuccessful. You believe that she is unable to do so because she was exposed to the radiation and is now sterile.
2. Leo Szilard (expert witness)
You were one of the scientists who participated in the making of the atomic bomb (The Manhattan Project). You agreed to do so only because you knew that the Germans were trying to make one of their own atomic bombs. However, once Germany surrendered, you led a movement to prevent the use of the bomb because you knew of its awesome power. You feared that the atomic bomb would lead to an arms race with the Soviet Union (The United States believed that the Soviets wanted to take over Eastern Europe and parts of Asia) and maybe a nuclear war.
You also believed that the United States should have directly warned Japan about the atomic bomb. You felt we should have requested the presence of high-ranking officials for a demonstration. We could have exploded the bomb on a remote island to encourage Japan’s surrender.
3. General H.H. “Hap” Arnold (expert witness)
You commanded the Army Air Force. In a memo submitted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, you stated your ideas about the best strategy for victory over Japan. You believed that we should continue our air offensive, along with a naval and air blockade. You noted that the Air Force had already bombed 60 Japanese cities…destroyed most of its industries and …made it impossible for it to carry on a large-scale war. We had also cut off military supplies from coming into the country. Even though Hiroshima was a military city with “war” factories, there was no need to use the atomic bomb because Japan was bound to surrender.
4. Joseph Stalin (expert witness)
You were the Premier of the Soviet Union. You offered to help the Americans defeat Japan with your Red Army. You kept your promise and attacked the Japanese in Manchuria (China) on August 8, 1945. You are certain that the Americans dropped the bomb on Hiroshima two days before your entry into the war because they hoped it would force the Japanese to surrender before Soviet troops went into action. The Americans were afraid that the Soviets would have tried to occupy Japan the way it had Germany. The Americans used the bomb so that they could force Japan to surrender and be the sole occupant of Japan (The Soviets and Americans were already arguing over the fate of Germany). You believed that the bomb was unnecessary since the Japanese could not hold off three great powers: the U.S., Great Britain and the Soviet Union.
Closing Argument – a statement given by the attorneys explaining what the prosecution team proved during the trial.
THE DEFENSE
You will seek to prove that Harry Truman is not guilty of crimes against humanity
Opening Statement: a statement given by the attorneys to explain what the prosecution team will prove during the trial
1. Joseph Smith (eye witness)
You were a prisoner of war in the Philippines. The Japanese captured you when you, and 40 others, swam to shore after your ship had been sunk. You were a member of the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Infantry traveling off the coast of the Philippines in 1943. Your ship was sunk by a Japanese air raid. While in the prison camp, the Japanese routinely beat, overworked (building bridges, etc…) and starved you. You admit though that you were beaten several times because you tried to escape from the camp. Also, you refused to eat the food in protest of your imprisonment. Some of the others died from this brutal treatment. These soldiers were cremated while the survivors watched. You will never forget the smell of human flesh. You lived in this “hell” for two years. When the war ended and you were finally rescued, only 25 out of 200 Americans survived the camp.
2. J. Robert Oppenheimer (expert witness)
You headed the brilliant team of atomic scientists that produced and tested the world’s first atomic bomb at Los Alamos, New Mexico (The Manhattan Project). You were certainly aware of its destructive power, but you still believed it was the best way to end the war. However, you did not believe that President Truman’s Potsdam Declaration should have been more clearly stated to the Japanese. You did not believe that we should have given Japan a demonstration of the bomb’s power. At a critical meeting with the President at the Pentagon on May 31, 1945, you support your thinking by stating that the scientists only developed three bombs. One will be tested in New Mexico. We could not afford to explode a second in a demonstration. What if Japan still did no surrender? Also, what if the bomb did not explode?
3. General George C. Marshall (expert witness)
You were Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. You were convinced that we had to use ground forces to defeat Japan. You pointed out that we had successfully bombed Germany. We had Germany under an almost total naval blockade. Yet, the Germans did not surrender until we smashed their ground armies. You also made it clear that the Japanese did not believe in surrender (it is part of their culture). You cited the kamikaze raids during the battle of Okinawa in 1945 to prove your point. Once you heard about the bomb, you were relieved. As you had told the President, you believed the bomb saved from 250,000 to 1 million Japanese and American lives.
4. President Harry Truman (Defendant)
As President of the United States, you relied heavily on your advisors – especially since you came to office unexpectedly only months earlier and had no previous knowledge that the United States was developing such a devastating weapon. You trusted General Marshall’s estimate that 250,000 to one million lives would be lost if the U.S. invaded Japan. So therefore, you believed the bomb saved many lives. You were also angered by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the treatment of U.S. prisoners of war. Furthermore, you believed that use of the bomb would send a message to the world’s dictators – like Stalin.
During the Potsdam Conference, you required unconditional surrender by Japan (Emperor Hirohito would have been required to give up the throne). Some of your advisors suggested that the Japanese would only surrender if the emperor continued his reign, but you did not want to give in to the Japanese. Also, during the conference you warned the Japanese of “prompt and utter destruction” if they did not surrender.
You felt terrible that many women and children were killed after Hiroshima was bombed. You ordered leaflets dropped on Tokyo urging citizens to request that the Japanese emperor surrender. Still, even after the destruction of Hiroshima, the Japanese did not surrender You then ordered the bombing of Nagasaki, and only after dropping this second bomb did the Japanese finally surrender.
Closing Argument – a statement given by the attorneys explaining what the defense team proved during the trial.
Guidelines For Attorneys:
For each witness -
Identify what points help your case
Develop a list of questions you will use to bring that information out in court. Your witnesses will supply you with questions that you will ask them during the trial. You need to come up with your own questions to ask witnesses appearing for the other side. You should also have evidence to back up your arguments
What about each witness will hurt your case? Come up with a counter to knock down arguments on the other side
Make sure you have e-mail, phone numbers for your fellow attorneys – there is no excuse for someone being absent – you should have a backup plan.
Guidelines For Witnesses:
What is the overall theme of your testimony?
Develop a list of at least 5 questions your attorney will ask you during the trial. Emphasize points that will help your side. Include evidence that your attorneys can use when they question you
What points hurts your side? Be prepared with answers for these points as the other side is sure to ask you about them.
Make sure you have e-mail or phone number for your witness-assistant. Someone should have a copy of your work in case you are absent. No excuses for being absent – have a backup plan.
THE TRIAL OF HARRY TRUMAN
LIST OF SUGGESTED WEBSITES
(you are not limited to these sites)
Truman Presidential Museum & Library: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/
Atomic Bomb Decision – Primary Source Documents:
http://www.dannen.com/decision
http://hnn.us/articles/186.html
A-Bomb WWW Museum: http://www.csi.ad.jpl.ABOMB/
Hiroshima – Was It Necessary? (more primary source documents that include a great who’s who) http://www.doug-long.com/
Leo Szilard Online – great website with lots of info!
http://www.dannen.com/szilard.html
Terror of the Atomic Bomb – Hiroshima & Nagasaki (really gruesome photos):
http://www.mctvine.jpl~bigapple/
Miscellaneous Sources:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/hiroshim.htm
Library Resources Online Databases
eLibrary
Facts.com World news Digest
History Study Center
Issues & Controversies in American History
Student Resource Center
Please consult your WMHS Information Center worksheet for home access password
Academic Integrity (cite your sources)
