War in the Pacific

After Pearl Harbor The day after Pearl Harbor, FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan (12/8/41) Within hours, Congress passed a war resolution On December 11th, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

Japan Advances 1941-1942: Japan advances on the Pacific

US Turns the Tide Island Hopping Campaign Recaptured Japanese held islands south of Japan U.S. works their way north towards Japan

B-29 Superfortress Development of a new plane. 3,250 mile combat range How could the invention of the B-29 bomber, a new plane that could fly 3,250 miles roundtrip, help the U.S. in the Pacific War against Japan?

Iwo Jima March 1945 670 miles from Tokyo U.S. Japan 7,000 killed 19,000 wounded Japan 21,800 killed 200 POW

Okinawa June 1945 400 miles from Tokyo U.S. Japan 19,000 killed 38,000 wounded Japan 100,000 soldiers killed 150,000 civilians killed 7,000 POW

Iwo Jima and Okinawa The U.S. victories over Japanese forces at Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945 are considered important for two reasons. U.S. can bomb Japan and have a safe landing site No islands stand in the way of the U.S. to invade Japan

Key Sea Battles Coral Sea 1942-stopped Japanese expansion Midway 1942- crippled Japanese Fleet—Turning point

Fire-bombing of Japan Once the U.S. had Iwo Jima and Okinawa, B-29’s immediately began to bomb mainland Japan.

Timeline June 6, 1944 – D-Day Feb. 1945 – Battle of Iwo Jima April 1945 – Battle of Okinawa May 8, 1945 – V-E Day Summer 1945 – Atomic Bomb Developed August 6, 1945 – Bombing of Hiroshima August 14, 1945 – V-J Day

Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The Bombing Final stages of WWII in 1945- V-E declared May 8, 1945 U.S. decided to use their new weapon – the atomic bomb Bombing of Hiroshima: Aug. 6, 1945 Bombing of Nagasaki: Aug. 9, 1945

Atomic Cafe Watch the first 10 minutes of the documentary Answer these questions in your journal What tests were done to prepare the military for using the atomic bomb? What is the impact of the atomic bomb on Japan? Why did they choose Hiroshima & Nagasaki?

Hiroshima Before

Hiroshima After

Inverted Blast “Shadows”

Aftermath Within 4 months: 90,000-166,000 people died ½ the deaths happened on the first day Many more deaths in the years later Six days after Nagasaki, Japan announced their surrender Because the U.S. gave no warning or opportunity for the Japanese to surrender, the ethics of America’s decision to use the bomb is still much-debated

The Bombing: US has to make decision: Use a new weapons (atomic bomb) OR Invade mainland Japan Your job: Step 1: In small groups divide sources into two categories Arguments SUPPORTING dropping the bombs Arguments AGAINST dropping the bombs Step 2: As you divide them up, create a list that explains the major reasons FOR and AGAINST (in your own words) Put source # down next to summary. Step 3: As a group come to a decision & be prepared to discuss-Should the US have dropped the atomic bombs on Japan?

Reasons For Fewer Americans died Fewer Japanese civilians died All nations in WWII killed civilians Japanese were not innocent There would have been a Soviet occupation The bombings ended the war

Reasons Against Japanese civilians died Radiation is more horrible than conventional bombs The US wanted to kill as many civilians as possible The bombings had nothing to do with Japan; they were about the Cold War Japan was already losing Fire bombing of Tokyo was already killing more people than the atomic bombs