1. The Pacific Theatre & the Atomic Bombs
THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC

2. Background:
Japan was an axis power but remained out of the war until 1941
Goal was to invade valuable rich U.S. and European colonies in South East Asia

3. Pearl Harbour
Japan bombs US naval base Pearl Harbour on December
America declares war on Japan
Japan’s allies, Italy and Germany declare war on America
(immediately after Pearl Harbour – Japanese launch surprise invasion of the British colony – Hong Kong – which Canadians will defend)

5. The War in the PAcific

6. Turning the Tide
The US turned the tide of the war in 1942 with a major naval victory near Midway Island
The US also scored a several major victories around the Philippines and crushed the Japanese Navy
The US Marines “island hopped” across the pacific slowly driving the Japanese off each island (a slow and extremely bloody process)

8. Japan continued to fight hard despite the fact they were clearly losing the war– Japanese soldiers often fought to the death and Kamikaze pilots made themselves human bombs and smashed into US ships
However, by 1945, the US had invaded “sacred” Japanese territory (Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa) and were bombing Japanese cities day and night

9. Japan tried to negotiate with the US, but the US wanted only “unconditional surrender”

28. Japanese Internment (the Aftermath)
After the war, Japanese Canadians still experienced racism and hatred
Many were deported to Japan (even those who were born in Canada)
In 1988, the Canadian Government apologized for internment and issued $21 thousand to survivors

29. The Manhattan Project
In response to rumors that Germany was developing a weapon based on atomic energy, the USA begins the top secret “Manhattan Project”
Using Canadian uranium, many of the world’s top scientists meet in the deserts of Nevada to build the world’s first Atomic Bomb
However, the German’s surrendered before the bomb was completed

30. Using the Bomb The USA is now faced with 3 options:
Use the Atomic Weapon against Japan
Invade Japan
Negotiate with Japan
The USA decides to use the bomb
On Aug. 6, 1945, “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima killing 75,000 people
On Aug 9, “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki killing 39,000 people
Japan surrenders and WW2 is finally over
However, the effects of the bomb lasted for years with radiation poisoning, high cancer rates and birth defects

36. Key Points
Despite furious resistance by the Japanese, the USA slowly crushes the Imperial Army, Navy and Air force.
Both Canada and the United States turn people of Japanese racial origin (violence, theft and internment)
The “Manhattan Project” creates the worlds first atomic weapons
Little Boy and Fat Man were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The Atomic bombs ended WW2, but the effects of the bombs are still being felt