How did the creation of nuclear weaponry affect society?
... major concern and still is today. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) requires international inspection of the nuclear facilities of signatory nations that do not possess nuclear weapons, in order to verify that they are not being developed. Brazil, Israel, India, and Pakistan have never signed, and some countries that signed the treaty as non-weapon states; Iran, Iraq, and North Korea in particular have since made attempts to develop them. Nuclear weapons have caused many deaths since their creation. For example, the atomic bomb was responsible for many over 100,000 deaths during World War II. On July 16th the US had perfected and tested the atomic bomb, and American president Truman, gave Japan a chance to surrender, or they would drop their atomic bomb somewhere in Japan, even still Japan decided to continue the war. Then on August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb with an explosive force greater than 20,000 U.S. tons of TNT was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which had a population of about 300,000. (see picture) At least 78,000 people were killed, 10,000 were never found, and more than 70,000 were injured. Almost two-thirds of the city was destroyed. On August 9, the day after the USSR declared war on Japan, an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, which had a population of 250,000. The total number deaths today, that have been caused by nuclear weapons, whether it be in creating, testing, or using them now stands at over 200,000. Though with a large price, the dropping of the two atomic bombs, the ‘fat man’ and ‘little boy’, put an end to World War II. On August 10, one day after the second atomic bomb had been dropped; Japan filed for peace on the condition that the emperor's position, as sovereign ruler would be maintained. After much discussion, on September 2nd, 1945, Japanese representatives signed the formal document of surrender putting an end to World War II. The destruction caused by a nuclear weapon results from thermal radiation, blast, and nuclear radiation. Immediately upon explosion, most of the energy of a nuclear weapon ...