Japan’s Empire Increases After the assault on Pearl Harbor, Japan launches a widespread attack on the islands of Eastern Asia. Attacks on American outposts in Guam and the Philippines. British port of Hong Kong and Malaya. Also invaded the jungles of Burma, cutting off the Burma Road, which America was using to get supplies to the Chinese.

Japan and the Philippines America was able to drastically slow down the Japanese in the Philippines General Douglas MacArthur retreated to a defensive position along the Bataan peninsula in order to hold the Japanese forces off longer. Sensing an inevitable surrender, MacArthur was ordered to secretly escape to Australia, famously claiming “I shall return”

Bataan Death March Those who were left behind and forced to surrender to the Japanese were exposed to the first of many atrocities committed by both sides in the Pacific, the Bataan Death March. Prisoners were forced to march 80 miles through the jungle of the Philippines with little food and water to a prisoner of war camp.

Guadalcanal In one of its first attempts to retake land from the Japanese, the American Navy and Marines landed at Guadalcanal. In an attempt to take an airfield on the island, American Marines landed, but the Navy ships were engaged by the Japanese and sunk. The Marines were not able to get reinforcements or supplies, however they held the island until the navy could retake control of the seas. Death totals were around 20,000 Japanese compared to 1,700 Americans.

Island hopping or Leapfrogging Instead of taking each Japanese stronghold, American and Australian forces adopted a new policy of “island hopping” or “leapfrogging” They would take strategic targets that they needed, and skip over the strongest Japanese held islands.