Japan vs. United States
Isolationism As the US endured the Depression in the 1930s, tensions were rising in Europe Majority of population in the US wanted neutrality Why?
Neutrality Acts 1936 A series of laws passed by Congress which prevented the US from aiding any country during acts of war or aggression By the time Germany, Britain, and France were at war, FDR wished to send aid to his friend Winston Churchill
Cash and Carry & Lend/Lease FDR manages to pass Cash and Carry (1939), later turns into Lend/Lease where FDR was able to supply “allies” with war goods with payment at a later date Usually not at all German response?
Japanese Aggression 1930s World War I and Great Depression had little effect on Japan This allowed for the growth of Japanese industry and population Rivalry with Russia in the early 1900s prompted Japan to join with Germany and Italy to form the Axis Powers in the 1930s
Japanese Expansion Japanese government looked to expand into Continental Asia, specifically Manchuria and Northern China China did not support Japan’s expansion into Manchuria which led to tension between the two countries
Japan Invades China By the early- to mid-1930s Japan had set its sights on Chinese land By the end of 1937, Japan had captured the major city of Nanking
Rape of Nanking Once Nanking was taken over, its people were subject to serious atrocities by Japanese military Rape, arson, looting, execution of prisoners of war and civilians R of N was not looked nicely upon by most of Western Culture, specifically the US
US Penalties on Japan US had a good relationship with China In support of China, US imposes trade embargos on Japanese supplies Oil Metal
Causes of Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor 1. US not supporting Japan’s take over of China in 1937 2. The trade penalties placed on Japan by the US 3. Pressure by the Nazis for Japan to attack the US
December 7, 1941
Pearl Harbor Japanese Forces 6 Aircraft Carriers 420+ Aircrafts Kamikazes 1 st Attack 6 AM off Japanese Aircraft Carriers Reaches PH at 7: Aircrafts and Torpedo Bombers Targeted Airfields and Aircraft Carriers
Effects Dead 20 Damaged Ships 8 Battleships Sunk USS Oklahoma Of the 400+ US Aircrafts 188 Destroyed 159 Damaged What is the most impactful effect of Pearl Harbor on the United States?
Pacific War Strategy Island Hopping Jumping from island to island to launch a successful attack at specific target Why is island hopping necessary in the Pacific? Battle of Midway Turning point in Pacific War as it stops Japanese advance towards Hawaii
Early Iwo Jima By Feb. 1945, US able to land on Iwo Jima Island blasted for 4 days before US troops land Japanese provided huge defense of the island Several days into fighting, Marines able to raise American flag on Mt. Suribachi 23,000 Japanese casualties Americans planes now able to bomb main island
Mid Okinawa Final battle of WWII (April-June 1945) Japanese allow marines to land on island Kamikazes attack retreating US ships ○ 3,000 reported attacks, 38 warships sank Marines now trapped on island but still pushing Japanese soldiers back Japanese retreat into caves and kill themselves (grenades) Early June, banzai raid- only about 6,000 left 110,000 Japanese dead, 10,000 American