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

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

Pearl Harbour Japan bombs US naval base Pearl Harbour on December 7 1941 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)

The War in the PAcific

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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