1. America Enters the War

2. Why it Matters
In early December 1941, the U.S. had engaged in war-like activity but had yet to commit itself
This would quickly change, and once again, U.S. involvement in the war would decide the struggle’s conclusion

3. Japan Attacks the United States
The United States and Japan were WWI allies
Prior to Conflict over power in Asia and the Pacific
Japan resented U.S. presence in Guam and the Philippines and the U.S. support of China
BUT Japan relied on trade with the U.S.

5. Trouble in the Pacific
Roosevelt tried to stop Japanese expansion into Indo-China by placing an embargo on supplies to Japan such as oil, iron ore, fuel, steel, and rubber
Japan signed the tripartite Pact in 1940 and the U.S. placed a more extensive embargo
1941- Hideki Tojo became Prime Minister- focused on military expansion

6. The Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor- site of the United States Navy’s main Pacific base
In an attempt to eradicate the U.S. naval and air presence in the Pacific, Tojo sent…
6 aircraft carriers
360 airplanes
Battleships and cruisers
Submarines
In a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941

8. Results of the Attack
Americans lost nearly 2,500 people and a significant amount of damaged battleships and aircraft
The U.S. battleship fleet was out of commission for 6 months
This allowed Japan to get necessary materials from their newly conquered territories

9. Results of the Attack
Despite heavy losses, the most important ships, aircraft carriers, were out at sea at the time and survived the attack untouched
Only 3 of the battleships left in Pearl Harbor were unusable
Vice Admiral Nagumo proved too conservative
Canceled a 3rd wave of bombers
Refused to seek out aircraft carriers
And turned back home when he feared a U.S. counter strike

10. America Declares War
As news of Pearl Harbor spread across the nation Americans rallied together and anticipated a monumental change
The attack ended any political divisions between isolationists and interventionists
The U.S. declared war on Japan
Japan, Italy, and Germany declared war on the U.S.

11. Mobilizing for war
During the course of the war, more than 16 million Americans served in the military
Americans from all ethnic and racial backgrounds joined the fight
Mexican and Native Americans served in integrated units, African Americans did not

12. Mobilizing for War
Women’s Army Corps (WAC)- provided clerical workers, truck drivers, instructors, and lab technicians for the U.S. army
Women also joined the Army Nurse Corps and cared for the wounded in Europe and Japan

14. Mobilizing Industry
Roosevelt knew that American production would play a key role in an Allied victory
War Production Board- oversaw the conversion from peacetime production to wartime production
The massive defense spending finally ended the Great Depression
There was job for every worker
This production gave the allies a crucial advantage
Stalin toasted, “To American production, without which the war would have been lost.”

16. Japanese Forces take the Philippines
General Douglas MacArthur-commander in the Pacific-struggled to hold the U.S. positions in the Philippines
A massive land attack forced the U.S. back from Manila to Bataan
MacArthur retreated to Australia while other Americans stayed behind

18. Japanese Forces take the Philippines
The Allied soldiers held out until May 1942 when they surrendered
The Japanese troops forced the remaining sick and malnourished POWs to march 55 miles to the Bataan Peninsula
More than 7,000 Americans and Filipinos died on what became known as the Bataan Death March

19. Bataan Death March Map

22. Lifting American Morale
Colonel James Doolittle led a bombing raid against Tokyo as a way for the U.S. to retaliate against Japan
Minimal military gains, but bolstered American morale
Battle of Coral Sea- marked a shift in momentum for the U.S.
Forced Japan to call off attack in New Guinea