World War II in the Pacific

What actions did the Japanese take in the months after bombing Pearl Harbor?

• Invaded Clark Field in the Philippines• Invaded and took control of the Philippine

Islands

Pearl Harbor (p. 754)

Japanese Expansion Before World War II

Bataan Death March

• On Philippine Island• Led to the deaths of

10,000+ Filipino and American prisoners

How did the Allies stop the Japanese from overrunning Australia?

• Battle of the Coral Sea - US Navy sank one Japanese aircraft carrier and severely damaged two others

• Prevented Japanese from establishing bases needed to bomb Australia from prior to an invasion

Battle of the Coral Sea• Both navies

not in sight of each other

• Aircraft carrier vs. Aircraft carrier

• Strategic US victory

• Tactical draw• Prevented

Japanese invasion of Australia

Map 26.5 World War II in the Pacific, 1941–1942 (p. 772)

How did the Allies turn the tide of the war in the Pacific?

• Critical victory at Midway Island (June 1942) - prevented any more Japanese offensive actions in the Pacific

• Allowed the Allies to take the offensive in the Pacific

Battle of Midway• June 1942 - major US victory -

Admiral Nimitz• US intercepted Japanese code and

were waiting when Japanese fleet arrived

• 4 Japanese carriers sunk• Allowed Allies to take the offensive in

the Pacific.

Map 26.6 World War II in the Pacific, 1943–1945 (p. 773)

What success did the Allies have with their island-hopping strategy?

• Great success - heavy casualties• Put them in a position to reach Japan with

long range bombers.

Battle of Guadalcanal

• Aug 1942-Feb 1943• Brutal island fighting• US victory - demonstrated

US ability to take control of Japanese held islands

• Prevented Japanese from establishing bases from which to invade Australia

Pacific War: 1941-1944

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United States Advances in the Pacific, 1942–1945

How did the decision to build and use the atomic bombs on Japan come about?

• Suggestion from Albert Einstein moved FDR to authorize development of an atomic bomb

• Scientific and technological ability • Advisory group could not recommend any

alternatives.

Battle of Iwo Jima

• Bloody fighting• Famous picture• Movie:

– Sands of Iwo Jima– Flags of our Fathers

• Opened way for potential invasion of Japan

• Demonstrated how costly invasion could be in terms of human life

Battle of Okinawa

• Bloody fighting• Opened way for

potential invasion of Japan

• Demonstrated how costly invasion could be in terms of human life

Iwo Jima and Okinawa

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World War II in the Pacific

World War II in the Pacific

kamikaze

• Japanese for “divine wind” - religious significance historically

• Suicide pilots intended to destroy enemy (US) ships

• Damaged some ships but did not alter outcome of battles at sea

What effects did dropping the atomic bombs have?

• Destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan• Led to Japanese surrender (August 14, 1945

- official September 2, 1945)• Killed and injured thousands of Japanese

Manhattan Project

• Top secret project that led to the development of the first atomic bomb - tested July 1945 in Los Alamos, New Mexico

• Best scientists, physicists, engineers

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Hiroshima (p. 776)

Manhattan Project

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