The Trial of Harry S Truman

It has been charged by the prosecution that US President Harry S Truman, acting as commander-in-chief of American forces in World War II, committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in ordering attacks with nuclear weapons against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945.

The indictment alleges that Truman used excessive force and violated the principle of jus in bello (justice in war) by deliberately targeting civilians and non-military targets with weapons of mass destruction.

Procedure:

·  Each side in the case will have one hour to make its case before an impartial court. Opening and closing statements will be included in this time frame. Truman will be judged as if he were in a civil court, i.e. by a preponderance of evidence for or against him.

·  After brief opening statements, the prosecution will call as many witnesses from the list below as time will allow. After the witnesses present their testimony, the defense will be allowed a brief (one question) cross-examination.

·  After a brief recess, the defense will call its witnesses from the list below and testimony, the defense will be allowed a brief (one question) cross-examination. If it chooses to do so, the defense may call Harry S Truman as a witness, but this is not required.  The court will then adjourn and the judge will consider the evidence and deliver its verdict.

·  Witnesses will be questioned and cross-examined by the chief prosecutor and defense counsel or by someone designated by them. The assignment of members of the class to the role of witnesses will also be the responsibility of chief prosecutor and defense counsel. With the exception of Harry S Truman, each member of the class will be assigned the role of a witness. Truman will be assigned only if the defense chooses to have him testify.  Additional witnesses can be added upon approval by the court.

·  Each side will present to the court a five-page typed deposition of the testimony of each witness. These depositions will be typed and delivered to the court at a date to be announced in class.

·  The testimony given by witnesses must be factual and relevant to the case.

Witnesses for the Prosecution

bullet

Hirohito, Emperor of Japan

bullet

A surviving citizen of Hiroshima or Nagasaki

bullet

J. Robert Oppenheimer, Manhattan Project Scientist

bullet

Leo Szilard, Manhattan Project Scientist

bullet

William Donovan, Director of the Office of Strategic Services

bullet

James Franck, Manhattan Project Scientist

bullet

Shigenori Togo, Foreign Minister of Japan

bullet

Father John A. Siemes, Professor at Tokyo's Catholic University (eyewitness)

bullet

Albert Einstein, Physicist

Witnesses for the Defense (7)

bullet

*Harry S Truman, President of the United States

bullet

General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander, Pacific Forces

bullet

Col. Paul Tibbets, Pilot of Enola Gay or Major Charles W. Sweeney, Pilot of Bockscar

bullet

Major General Leslie Groves, Manhattan Project Director

bullet

Henry Stimson, Secretary of War

bullet

James Byrnes, Secretary of State

bullet

General George Marshall, Army Chief of Staff

bullet

Ralph Bard, Undersecretary of the Navy

bullet

St. Augustine of Hippo, Christian Theologian

bullet

Hugo Grotius, International Law Scholar

Teams

 

 

 

 


The Trial of the Truman Administration

 

 

Introduction

Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as President of the United States--the most powerful nation on earth--during the time of World War II. His successor, President Harry S. Truman, made the fateful decision to use the Atomic Bomb to end the war and ordered the attacks that would lead to Japan's ultimate surrender. Looking back on the period, questions about this administration's responsibility for the carnage of this event exist. Was Roosevelt's decision to approve the development of the atomic bomb, despite pleas from such notable scientists as Albert Einstein, irresponsible? Was Truman justified in using this weapon of mass destruction against tens--or hundreds--of thousands of civilians?

These decisions will be made during a mock trial in which the Truman administration is accused of aiding and abetting the mass murders of Japanese civilians in 1945. Are they guilty or innocent? What were the ultimate outcomes of their actions? Was the participation of either man justified? By combining actual investigative techniques and historical research, a jury will decide.


Nagasaki, the day after the attack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting Points

Pro's & Cons of the Atomic Bomb's Use
http://www.me.utexas.edu/~uer/manhattan/debates.html

Truman: Hero or Villian?
http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/heroesvillains/truman/default.htm

The Charges

The Truman Administration is hereby charged to be in violation of Article III, sections a, b, and e of United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime Genocide (78 U.N.T.S. 277) on two counts:

1. for its decision to allow the development of the atomic bomb, and

2. for its direct involvement in the use of the Atomic Bomb, causing the mass destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki--and the innocent civilians therein--in 1945.

Procedures

1. After reviewing the two links under "Starting Points" (see above), two groups will be established, for the prosecution and defense, each gathering evidence related to the use of the Atomic Bomb and organizing their research into evidence data sheets.

Each group is sub-divided by elements of evidence that will be gathered, including:

investigation of the "crime scenes" -- Describe Hiroshima and Nagasaki., as well as the environs for each. Include information related to geography, economic activites, populations, strategic importance. Also describe the effects that the bombings had on all of these.

eyewitness testimonies -- Find first-person accounts of the bombings and any relevant primary sources related to the war against Japan. Accounts may be used from either side (U.S. or Japan).

technical material evidence -- What made the atomic bomb different from other weapons? Include a basic overview of the principles of fission and fusion, and the effects of the radiation released by this process.

examination of motive and opportunity -- Were the reasons for developing and using this weapon justified? Explore the circumstances of the time and legitamacy of the alternatives to having used the bomb.

examination of the suspects' characters -- Were there elements associated with the personalities, backgrounds, or careers of Roosevelt and Truman that contributed to the decisions they made? What are the moral ramifications of their actions? Did they "mean well"?

2. Research is conducted during the 4-5 days of the project.

3. On the final day, a debate following official trial procedures will be conducted and verdicts will be delivered.

Grading Criteria

Students will be evaluated on the basis of their participation during the research phase ("planning") and by their performance during the trial ("performance"). The scoring will be done using the rubric for group activities established by the 8th grade history class.

 

 

Evaluation Rubric

DISCUSSION/PLANNING

ELEMENTS

POINTS (/5 each)

 1. COOPERATION

engages others in group with respect, empathy,
integrity and courtesy

 

 2. CONTRIBUTION

shares ideas, as well as responsibility of
maintaining the pace and scope of the discussion

 

 3. COLLABORATION

moves easily between roles of facilitator and
processor

 

 4. COMMUNICATION

expresses ideas clearly and efficiently, with an
appropriate degree of assertiveness

 

 5. CONCENTRATION

remains on task during discussions, even if not
as an active participant

 

 

CONTENT

ELEMENTS

POINTS (/10 each)

 1. RESOURCES

utilizes AT LEAST FIVE sources from a variety of resources (ie: Internet, reference books, periodicals, etc.)

 

 2. RELEVANCE

evidence is relevant to the specific element of the case your team develops

 

 3. UNDERSTANDING

demonstrates solid comprehension of material used in the arguments presented

 

 4. ORGANIZATION

material is gathered and arranged so that it effectively develops arguments

 

 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

follows the guidelines established earlier in the year for research papers

 

 

 

 

Scale:

 

The following website is what we will use to find information and links for this trial.

 

http://theellisschool.org/worldclass/project8

 

back to World War II Homepage