World War Two – the atomic bombing of Hiroshima

A PowerPoint which I think History teachers will find helpful. If you use it, and like it, please give me a positive star rating / review. Constructive criticism is also appreciated.

It was designed for teaching grade 10 history in Australia.

PowerPoint: The Atomic Bomb
Key learnings
 The significance of the use of atomic bombs during World War II
 The contestability surrounding the use of atomic bombs during World War II
 What are causes and effects of the use of atomic bombs during World War II?

Information contained on slides
• The beginning of the nuclear age
• The first atomic bomb
• Different perspectives on using the bombs (prior to their use)
o Why did America decide to use the atomic bomb on Japan?
o US President Harry Truman’s perspective
• Little Boy and Fat Man – dates and locations of use
• Images of Hiroshima including artworks
• A description of the Hiroshima blast
o Images and descriptions of damage to buildings
o Information about the final initial death toll
o Black rain
o Immediate effects of the radiation
o Image of a human shadow etched in stone
o Fire
• Human effects of using the atomic bombs (health consequences)
o Hair loss, radiation, scarring, cataracts, birth defects, leukaemia and cancers
• Discrimination against survivors of the bomb (known as Hibakusha)
• The wider causes and effects of the use of the atomic bombs during World War Two
• The Hiroshima peace memorial
• The story of Sadako and the thousand paper cranes
• Images of Hiroshima today
• Arguments for dropping the atomic bomb
• Arguments against dropping the atomic bomb