WWII and Japan

Beginning of U.S. Involvement WWII officially began in 1939 when France and Great Britain declared war on Germany after the German invasion of Poland. The United States, led by President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that the U.S. would remain neutral. However, the U.S. supplied weapons and supplies to the Allied Powers, mainly Great Britain throughout the war. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Franklin D. Roosevelt declared this day “a date which will live in infamy.” The United States declared war on Japan, and later the other Axis Powers, on December 8, 1941.

Pearl Harbor The naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked on the morning of December 7, 1941. 343 Japanese planes (called Zeroes) attacked the ships in the port. Impact of the attack on Pearl Harbor: 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed 2404 Americans killed 1282 Americans wounded 8 U.S. battleships damaged (4 sunk) Other naval ships destroyed or damaged, included 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and a minelayer

Pearl Harbor

Japanese Internment As a result of Pearl Harbor, American citizens of Japanese descent began to be persecuted in America. Japanese American began to be imprisoned in WWII Internment Camps, also known as War Relocation Camps. In total, over 110,000 people were imprisoned in American WWII Internment Camps, for no reasons other than that they were of Japanese heritage.

Island Hopping From late 1941 – 1945, the U.S. fought a series of battles against the Japanese military across numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean. Many of these battles, including Iwo Jima, Guam, and Midway, led to extremely high levels of causalities on both sides. By 1945, the U.S. had defeated many of the Japanese controlled islands in the Pacific and began planning the upcoming attack on Japan.

Presidential Change On April 12, 1945, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died and was replaced by Vice President Harry Truman. U.S. Military advisors believed a direct assault of the Japanese islands would be a disaster for both American soldiers and Japanese citizens; believed it could potentially cost over 1 million American soldiers their lives and 6-7 million Japanese deaths as they attempt to defend their homeland. As a result, the decision is made to use Atomic Bombs on Japan, in order to force them to surrender. FDR Truman

Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki The first Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, but the Japanese did not surrender. This bomb caused an estimated 70,000 deaths, with others eventually dying from radiation from the bomb. The second Atomic Bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Japan surrendered shortly after. This bomb caused an estimated 40,000 deaths, with others again dying from radiation.

Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Japanese Surrender and Aftermath The Japanese surrendered, officially ending WWII on August 15, 1945. The final surrendering documents were signed aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. Army General Douglas MacArthur, who had been named the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, and numerous other high-ranking Allied leaders were present for this occasion. General MacArthur oversaw the occupation of Japan from 1945 – 1951, while helping to rebuild Japan. Douglas MacArthur