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Why did we nuke Hiroshima and Nagasaki instead of hitting Japan’s military bases?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Mar 9, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

> I don't see why hundreds of thousands of people had to pay the price for the actions of their government. In a sense, that's why we did it. The Japanese were basically too stubborn to give up, and the bombings were (in part) to terrify them into submission.

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The Short Answer

> I don't see why hundreds of thousands of people had to pay the price for the actions of their government. In a sense, that's why we did it. The Japanese were basically too stubborn to give up, and the bombings were (in part) to terrify them into submission. Ruining the shit out of civilian populations is a good way to do something like that. We weren't just trying to cripple them militarily, we wanted maximum psychological impact. _URL_0_

Analysis

Key Concepts: Don't, hundreds, thousands

This explanation focuses on don't, hundreds, thousands and spans 79 words across 6 sentences. The depth is typical for Science questions (category average: 72 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “> I don't see why hundreds of thousands of people had to pay the price for the actions of their government.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.

How This Compares in Science

Ranked #181 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 37%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why we nuke hiroshima and nagasaki instead of hitting japan's military bases?

> I don't see why hundreds of thousands of people had to pay the price for the actions of their government. In a sense, that's why we did it. The Japanese were basically too stubborn to give up, and the bombings were (in part) to terrify them…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?

This is an above-average answer at 79 words, ranked #181 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are don't, hundreds, thousands.

What approach does this answer take to explain we nuke hiroshima and nagasaki instead of hitting japan's mi?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 79 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.