“Truman declared that his decision to drop the bomb was purely military. Truman believed the bombs also saved Japanese lives. Prolonging the war was not an option for the President” (ushistory.org 1). President Truman and the United States government made a right decision by dropping the atomic bomb on Japanese citizens in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The bomb allowed the United States to appear more powerful and led it to influence the rest of the world. The dropping of the atomic bomb was also a just response to previous atrocities committed by Japan against other countries, including the United States. In the long run, the bomb saved more lives that would have been lost during the war, as the bombs forced the Japanese to surrender and ended World War II. The Americans made a smart decision when they dropped the bomb, because it led to future success for them and the rest of the world. The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima allowed the United States to have greater influence in the world, thus allowing it to spread ideas of democracy and freedom. With a superior position to the rest of the world, the United States could realize its plan of spreading democracy and freedom. They believed that democracy and freedom would make the countries of the world better places. For example, World War II physically and economically damaged most of Western Europe. The United States created the Marshall Plan to help, especially when they saw communism on the rise in those countries. "Under the plan, the United States provided aid to prevent starvation in major war areas, repair the devastation of those areas as quickly as possible, and begin economic reconstruction. The plan had two main goals: to prevent the spread of communism i. ..... middle of sheet ......c 1). Works cited "American Rhetoric: Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation (12/41/08)." oratory in the United States. Web. December 21, 2011. "Attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941." Eyewitness History - History Through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It. Web. Release: August 6, 1945. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Web. December 21, 2011. "Pearl Harbor Statistics." Jake's "Yankee Station" - USS Hancock CV/CVA-19 Memorial. Web. December 21, 2011. 2011. "World War II Death Tolls of All Nations".. 2011. .