Today’s Schedule – 4/4 Analysis of FDR’s Speech PPT: The War in the Pacific Analysis of Strategies HW: –Read

Define These Terms Infamy Premeditated Implications Onslaught Uttermost Mincing Dastardly

When did WWII start in the Pacific Theater? The answer to that would depend on what nation you are speaking about. For Japan, it could be said that the war started when they occupied Manchuria in September of The war started for China in July of 1937 when they were invaded by the Japanese.

When did WWII start for America? December 7, 1941 What occurred to bring America into the war?

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

When did America declare war against Japan? FDR, the American president, made a speech asking congress to declare war against the Japanese Empire. December 8, 1941

After Pearl Harbor, Hitler honored a pact with Japan and declared war on the United States. America in turn declared war on Germany on December 9, 1941; making the war a true world war.

The Japanese attacked Philippines, which were held by America, on December 8, The U.S. military forces in the Philippines controlled by General Douglas MacArthur, and later by General Wainwright, eventually fell to the Japanese in spring of 1942.

Japan then drove southward, capturing the Dutch East Indies, and the British controlled territories of Singapore, Malaysia, and Burma. They also were making plans to invade Australia.

To the East, the Japanese captured Guam, Wake Island, and Northern New Guinea.

Doolittle Raid April 18, 1942

The attack, lead by legendary pilot Jimmy Doolittle, was the first strike against the Japanese mainland. The damage caused by the attack wasn’t significant, but American and allied moral was greatly boosted.

Battle of Coral Sea May 7-8, 1942

As a preliminary step in the invasion of Australia, the Japanese sent a fleet to capture Port Moresby in New Guinea. An American fleet fought the Japanese to a draw, effectively stopping the Japanese invasion of Australia.

Battle of Midway June 4, 1941

In the “Miracle of Midway,” American naval forces defeated a much larger Japanese force as it prepared to seize Midway Island. The American victory ended the Japanese threat to Hawaii and began a series of American victories in the “island hopping” campaign that carried the war closer and closer to Japan. The American victory at the Battle of Midway is often considered the turning point in the war against the Japan. Who won the Battle of Midway and why is the battle considered to be important?

Island Hopping mid-1942 through mid-1944

General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz developed the strategy of “island hopping,” in which U.S. Forces would retake islands closer and closer to Japan and use them as bases for air attacks against Japan. What is island hopping?

Some of the Islands taken while island hopping were:  Guadalcanal  New Guinea  New Britain  Tarawa  Saipan

Philippines Re-captured MacArthur Returns late early 1945

General MacArthur returned to the Philippines with the assault on the Japanese at Leyte, fulfilling the promise he made when he left in 1942.

Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa Spring – Summer 1945

The invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, both part of Japan, brought American forces closer than ever to the Japanese mainland.

Thousands of American lives and even more Japanese lives were lost as Japanese soldiers fought fiercely over every square inch of the islands. The battles are also noted for the rise of kamikaze (suicide) attacks Japanese planes made against American ships.

Based on the estimate of American lives it would take to invade the Japanese mainland, President Truman decided to use a new weapon. A weapon more powerful than any other in the history of man.

August 6, 1945 a U.S. plane dropped the first atomic bomb ever used in a war. What city was attacked? Hiroshima On August 9, 1945 America dropped another atomic bomb on what city? Nagasaki

September 2, 1945 the Japanese signed the official instrument of surrender papers and the war ended.

For America, World War Two started with the attack against: Pearl Harbor The Japanese continued nearly unimpeded through the early months of the war until they were first stopped at the: Battle of Coral Sea Japan’s first big defeat, and the turning point of the war, occurred at the Battle of: Midway The main strategy used by America for the majority of the war was called: island hopping

General MacArthur promised to return to: the Philippines The ferocity of fighting as well as the large number of kamikaze attacks are associated with the battles of: Iwo Jima and Okinawa The American president who made the decision to use atomic weapons against Japan was: President Truman The first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of: Hiroshima

Answer These Questions JAPAN Why did the Japanese believe that it was better to go to war with the United States sooner rather than later? Why were Japanese military planners pessimistic about their country's chances in a long war against the United States? What actions did the Japanese government take to prepare for a war in the Pacific? According to Japanese military planners, how likely was war against the Soviet Union? What were the three phases of Japan's strategy in the Pacific? U.S. Why did U.S. military planners believe that it was so important to defend the Philippines? Why did they not choose immediately to launch a bombing campaign against Japan? What sea and air routes did the Allies believe were most vulnerable, and why? Why did U.S. military planners opt for a largely defensive strategy in the Pacific?