Pearl Harbor and the American Response

Pearl Harbor  December 7, 1941  U.S. Naval base in Hawaii  Japan, under the rule of Hideki Tojo (prime minister and General), launched a surprise attack

Result  U.S. lost: Two U.S. Navy battleships Two U.S. Navy battleships USS ArizonaUSS Arizona USS UtahUSS Utah One minelayer One minelayer Two Destroyers Two Destroyers 188 Airplanes 188 Airplanes 2,388 soldiers (half were aboard the USS Arizona) 2,388 soldiers (half were aboard the USS Arizona)  Japan lost: 29 Airplanes 5 Midget Submarines 65 men

U.S.S. West Virginia

U.S.S. California

USS Utah

U.S.S. Arizona

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

Why?  Rising tensions between the U.S. and Japan throughout the 20s and 30s Both were expanding in the Pacific Both were expanding in the Pacific  The attack on Pearl Harbor was Japan’s attempt to cut the U.S. off from aiding Great Britain (who was fighting Germany, Japan’s ally) and eliminate the threat in the Pacific ocean Wait a minute… This sounds familiar…

Outcome  Before Pearl Harbor the U.S. practiced isolationism Lend-Lease Act: Aided the allies with more than 50 billion dollars worth of goods Lend-Lease Act: Aided the allies with more than 50 billion dollars worth of goods Refused to go to war because of thousands of German Americans Refused to go to war because of thousands of German Americans  December 8, 1941: The U.S. declared war on Japan

The End of the Great Depression  War Production Board: The creation of military equipment created thousands of new jobs More jobs for African Americans, Mexican Americans, and women More jobs for African Americans, Mexican Americans, and women Rosie the Riveter became the symbol of the working woman

Fighting Japan  Japan conquered Hong Kong, Thailand, Guam, Wake, and the Philippines Kamikaze: Japanese suicide pilots who would fly their planes into American targets Kamikaze: Japanese suicide pilots who would fly their planes into American targets

The Battle of Midway  The Battle of Midway The Japanese attempted to surprise attack Midway The Japanese attempted to surprise attack Midway The U.S. learned of the attack (broke their code) and brought in reinforcements The U.S. learned of the attack (broke their code) and brought in reinforcements This U.S. victory became the turning point of the war against Japan This U.S. victory became the turning point of the war against Japan  Now on the offensive, the U.S. began island hopping in the Pacific An American island used as a refueling station This means “on the attack”

Iwo Jima  The U.S. attacked Japan  Japanese hid in underground tunnels  More than 120,000 Japanese soldiers were killed in the battle  Japanese who survived committed suicide  Americans could use the islands to attack Japan The island was practically a wasteland, so why try to capture it?

When the U.S. first arrived, the island appeared abandoned, and the United States declared it as their own

The Japanese used hidden mines to disable American tanks

The Japanese were hiding in an elaborate system of tunnels dug into the hillside, waiting for the right moment to strike

Okinawa  Americans attacked the Japanese  The bloodiest World War II battle in the Pacific  Both sides lost thousands of men American: More 12,000 killed American: More 12,000 killed Japanese: More than 130,000 killed Japanese: More than 130,000 killed “In many cases, hand grenades, which were in extreme shortage, were distributed to residents. I heard people say they were told by the military to commit suicide using the grenades rather than becoming captives."

Japanese underground headquarters

Burning out the Japanese

The End of the War in the Pacific  Japan refused to surrender  The Manhattan Project: Top secret program led by Robert Oppenheimer to build an atomic bomb  The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Harry Truman—who had taken over for the deceased F.D.R.—decided to use the bombs Harry Truman—who had taken over for the deceased F.D.R.—decided to use the bombs Killed more than 175,000 civilians Killed more than 175,000 civilians Forced Japan to surrender Forced Japan to surrender Vowed to fight until every Japanese man, woman, and child was dead

Little Boy

Fat Man

“My God, what have we done?” – the co- pilot of the Enola Gay, the bomber that dropped the “Little Boy” on Hiroshima

 Warning: Look away if you’re easily disturbed.

  e.ram e.ram e.ram