1. Major Question, “How did the U.S. Respond to the Declaration of War?

2.  16 Million Americans served in WWII. People of many different ethnic groups joined the military.  African Americans served in segregated units.  Women could join the military and serve in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). Some were nurses.

3.  The govt. started a War Production Board in 1942. It would move the peace economy to a war one.  The govt. would decide how scarce resources were used, negotiate contracts, work with labor, and control inflation (Office of War Mobilization did these).

4.  Ford began making thousands of bombers for the U.S. Army Air force.  Henry J. Kaiser made thousands of merchant ships to deliver goods (Liberty Ships).

5.  General Douglas MacArthur tried to hold the Philippines in late 1941 (lacked equipment).  The Americans lost other islands and then the Japanese came to take the Philippines. Americans were under siege at Corregidor.

6.  The Americans held out until May 1942. The Japanese forced survivors to march with little food, or clean water.  7000 Americans died of the 75 thousand that surrendered. It became known as the Bataan Death March.

7.  By 1942 Japan threatened to dominate much of the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Australia, and New Zealand.

8.  It was a planned bombing raid against Tokyo (led by Colonel James Doolittle). It was in response to the Pearl Harbor attack. Bombers were launched from the carrier U.S.S. Hornet.  The raid served more as a morale booster.

9.  It was a battle fought May 7-8, 1942. The Japanese threatened to invade New Guinea and move into Australia.  It was a carrier (planes) battle at sea (no direct shooting). The battle was a draw, but the Japanese called off their invasion.