Question

In what way was Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb MOST influenced by his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt?

A) Roosevelt promised victory by unconditional surrender.

B) Roosevelt publicly endorsed the use of nuclear weapons.

C) Roosevelt vowed to get revenge for the Pearl Harbor attack.

D) Roosevelt declared that Japan would be defeated at all costs.

Answer 1

A is the correct answer.

The Allies declared after the Potsdam Summit that the only surrender they would accept from the Axis powers was an unconditional surrender, that is, one without any conditions attached it to be the surrendering party.

Truman was fully briefed about Japan's resolve and had to weigh that in deciding where and how to force Japan into an unconditional surrender. If they had not dropped the bomb, preparations were being made to land an invasion force.