Allies turn the Tide - Pacific

Allies turn the Tide -PacificSection 24.1 and 24.3ObjectivesEvaluate the importance of the Battle of Midway

Understand why the Americans took a two pronged attack towards Japan

Relate the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in relation to our decision to drop the Atomic Bomb

Following Pearl HarborJapanese takePhilippinesMalayaDutch East IndiesHong KongWake IslandGuamBurma

America Fights BackDoolittle Raid

Battle of Coral Sea

Japan sets sights on Midway

Japan sets sights on MidwayCommander of Japanese forces in the Pacific Admiral Yamamoto

Sought to destroy American Aircraft Carriers stationed at Midway

Chester Nimitz Commander of US Navy in the Pacific intercepted the Japanese battle plans for Midway

Battle of Midway IslandJune 4th, 1942Most important Naval battle of WWIIJapanese lost 4 aircraft carriersUS only lost 1

The Battle of Midway Island was a major turning point in the warJapanese forced on the defensiveApproach to JapanIsland HoppingCapturing each island along the way to JapanInitial strategy in the Pacific

Leap-FroggingOnly capturing important strategic islandsBecame dominant strategy as the war went on

Approach to JapanOpposing ideasDouglas MacArthurChester Nimitz

MacArthur wanted to retake the PhilippinesNimitz wanted to take TaiwanRoosevelt agreed with MacArthur

Japanese ResistanceIncredibly fierce fightersSurrender was not an optionJapanese casualties were very high due to unwillingness to surrender

Kamikaze PilotsDeliberately crashing planes into enemy personnel

Iwo JimaFebruary-March 1945

5 mile long island, 650 miles from Tokyo

7,000 American deaths19,000 Japanese deaths

OkinawaApril 1945

Island only 340 miles from Japanese mainland

Contained a vital airbase, necessary for an invasion of Japan

Bloodiest battle in the Pacific12,000 American deaths

95,000 Japanese deaths

40,000-100,000 civilians killed

Fire Bombing of TokyoFollowing Okinawa, Japan was easily reachable by American bombers

In March 1945, Tokyo was firebombed16 square miles of Tokyo was destroyed83,000 Japanese died, over 100,000 were injured

For MondayInterpret whether or not you think the Japanese were trying to end the war

Considering the casualty rates from previous battles in the Pacific, how good is Japanese morale at this point?

In August of 1945, American bombers dropped two Atomic Bombs on Japan, ending the war.Write down at least two arguments why or why not we should have dropped the bombs