Victory in the Pacific Warm-Up: (1)Why did the US go to war with Japan in the first place? (2)Name three major battles that were fought on the Pacific front. (3)List one fact that you know about the war in the Pacific? Agenda:  Warm-Up (5 mins.)  Notes (10 mins.)  Video (26 mins.)  TOD-Articles & Questions (15 mins.)

The Japanese Retreat Even though the war ended in Europe the Japanese continued to fight After the battle of Guadalcanal the Japanese advances stopped US General MacArthur returned to the Philippines in Battle of Leyte Gulf – Result-Japanese Naval Force was eliminated US military victories at Iwo Jima and Okinawa further devastated the Japanese US military prepared to invade Japan and thus end the war in the Pacific

The US Ends the War US President Truman had to decide how the US would end the war in the Pacific-had two options – Option #1-Land Invasion Truman’s advisors warned that half a million lives would be lost in a land invasion – Option #2-Atomic Bomb Advisors believed that using the bomb would bring the war to an end in the quickest way possible

The Atomic Bomb AKA the Manhattan Project Truman first learns of it’s existence when he becomes President First Atomic Bomb was exploded (tested) in May 1945 in the New Mexico desert. Truman warns the Japanese that unless they surrender the atomic bombs will be dropped Japan does not respond On August 6, 1945 the US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima (70,000-80,000 died) Japan does not surrender On August 9, 1945 the US drops a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki (more than 70,000 died) Radiation from the explosions killed countless others The Japanese surrendered to General MacArthur on September 2, 1945

Postwar Governments  Many Europeans were despaired and blamed their leaders for the war and the aftermath.  The prewar governments of Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Norway returned quickly-prewar governments in Italy, France, and Germany were not desired in the postwar world.  The Communist Party promised change and saw its membership skyrocket in both Italy and France initially; however violent attacks by communists and an improved economic situation turned the French and Italian voters towards anticommunist parties.

Nuremberg Trails  International Military Tribunal representing 23 nations put Nazi war criminals on trial in Nuremberg, Germany  22 Nazi leaders were charged with committing “crimes against humanity” for the murder of 11 million people  Goring –eventually killed himself and Hess remained to face charges receiving a life sentence  Hitler, Himmler, and Goebbels committed suicide  Hans Frank-the only Nazi to express remorse said, “A thousand years will pass and still this guilt of Germany will not have been erased.”  The bodies of the executed Nazi leaders were burned at the concentration camp of Dachau.

Postwar Japan  The Japanese defeat in WWII left the nation in shambles and stripped of their colonial empire.  General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender and took charge of the US occupation of the nation.  MacArthur oversaw the demilitarization, war crimes trails, and democratization of Japan  BY 1947 Japan had a constitution and MacArthur had successfully enacted land reforms that ultimately benefited the Japanese.  Japanese society was changed drastically—for one the emperor had to admit that he was not divine but rather served as a figurehead.  By 1951 the US and 47 other nations signed a peace treaty with Japan officially ending the war—the US maintained a military presence in order to protect Japan  Diplomatic relationships changed drastically: the US and Japan became allies and the US and the Soviet Union began to compete for power in the postwar world.

The Aftermath of WWII  ( )-6 years, 60 million dead (about 13 million civilians), 50 million uprooted and deemed homeless, billions of dollars in damage  Soviet Union lost 20 million troops alone  Civilians tried to pick up the pieces and began the process of rebuilding; with no electricity, water, and little food, many set out for a new land.

Video: The Atomic Bomb the End or the Beginning Watch the video and create a web of at least 15 facts from the video (The Atomic Bomb the End or the Beginning 26:00)

The Decision to Build and Use the Atomic Bomb Read articles A, B, & C and pick two of the following questions to answer in your notebook: 1)Was the decision to drop the atomic bomb a military necessity? If not why? If so, why was this a better military option? 2)If you were Truman would you have dropped the atomic bomb? Why or why not? 3)Many historians believe that the US dropped the atomic bomb on an already defeated Japan in order to control post WWII politics. Do you agree or disagree? Explain. 4)Do you think that Truman and the scientists understood the precedent that they had established by using nuclear weapons in warfare?