What was Hiroshima and Nagasaki like before the bombing?

Before the 1945 atomic blasts, they were thriving cities. In a flash, they became desolate wastelands. In early August 1945, warfare changed forever when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, devastating the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and killing more than 100,000 people.

What happened before Hiroshima?

1. The United States declared war on Japan on 8 December 1941, a day after Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the US naval base in Hawaii. The attack killed 2,400 people besides damaging nearly 20 naval vessels and roughly 300 airplanes.

How would you describe Hiroshima?

Hiroshima is a city and capital of Hiroshima (prefecture) that lies at the head of Hiroshima Bay, an embayment of the Inland Sea. It is located in southwestern Honshu, the largest island in Japan.

What was the population of Hiroshima before the bomb was dropped?

The population of Hiroshima had reached a peak of over 380,000 earlier in the war but prior to the atomic bombing the population had steadily decreased because of a systematic evacuation ordered by the Japanese government. At the time of the attack the population was approximately 255,000.

What was Hiroshima like after the bomb?

Hiroshima had been completely destroyed by the A-bomb, but gradually electricity, transportation, and other functions were restored. The people collected any unburned materials they could find and began rebuilding their homes and their lives.

Is Hiroshima and Nagasaki still radioactive?

Is there still radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies.

Was Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima first?

The Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, directly caused America’s entry into WW2 which led to the eventual launch of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, an outcome that spelled disaster for the Japanese.

What did Japan think of the atomic bomb?

In Japan, only 14% say the bombing was justified, versus 79% who say it was not. Not surprisingly, there is a large generation gap among Americans in attitudes toward the bombings of Hiroshima.