WWII, Part II: Japan Strikes in the Pacific

Background to Pearl Harbor

The Japanese Economy

As an island nation, the Japanese required an enormous amount of foreign trade to acquire all of the materials needed to sustain their society The other problem was a lack of living space

Japan Remedied their Living Space

Japan attacked the Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931 to increase their living space and acquire more resources Effect: The United

States placed an embargo on all imports to Japan The US supplied

80% of Japan’s oil and 75% of Japan’s scrap metal

Japan Had to Find A New Oil Supplier

Japan focused their attention on the islands of the Philippines and Indonesia There was one problem…

The United States Navy controlled the Philippine Islands and blocked the Japanese from Indonesia

Japan Needed to Eliminate the Obstacle

The Japanese Admiral Yamamoto decided that a preemptive strike against the U.S. at Pearl Harbor was the best plan of action Three targets:

1. American Aircraft Carriers and Battleships

2. American Oil and Repair Stations

3. American Airfields and Airplanes

The Japanese planned three waves to destroy each target

The Attack on Pearl HarborDecember 7, 1941

Japan’s Route to Pearl Harbor

Path of the Japanese Bombers

The EffectsThe Japanese sunk or

damaged 21 ships. U.S.S. Arizona, U.S.S.

Utah, and U.S.S. Oklahoma out of action.

Destroyed 188 airplanes.

2,403 (1,102) Americans killed and 1,178 wounded.

The United States’ LuckU.S.S. Enterprise and

U.S.S. Lexington were resupplying some Pacific Islands during the attack.

Japan called off the third wave of airplanes to strike Pearl Harbor.

The United States Is Furious

December 8th, President Roosevelt and Congress declare war on Japan. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date

which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

Shortly after the attack, the Axis Powers declare war on the United States.

The United States Rallies

Striking Back (Doolittle Raid)President Roosevelt wanted to

attack Tokyo and raise American’s hopes.On April 18, 1942, American bombs fell

on Japan. 16 B-25s took off from the U.S.S. Hornet and

dropped bombs on Tokyo Led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle.

Doolittle Raid Bombers

"It was hoped that the damage done would be both material and psychological. Material damage was to be the destruction of specific targets with ensuing confusion and retardation of production. The psychological results, it was hoped, would be the recalling of combat equipment from other theaters for home defense thus effecting relief in those theaters, the development of a fear complex in Japan, improved relationships with our Allies, and a favorable reaction on the American people." —General James H. Doolittle, 9 July 1942