1. War in the Pacific

3. The War in the Pacific O The US declared war on Japan on Dec. 8. O The US fought a two front war – we fought in the Atlantic theatre, and we fought in the Pacific theatre.

4. The War in the Pacific O The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor missed the Pacific fleet’s submarines and aircraft carriers. O The US had to step up production to meet the needs of the soldier in the Pacific.

5. The War in the Pacific O In the 6 months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese conquered an empire that dwarfed Hitler’s in Europe. O Hong Kong, French Indochina, Malaya, Burma, Thailand, Dutch East Indies, Guam, Wake Island, many other small islands, and much of China.

6. The War in the Pacific O American and Filipino troops fought Japan. Douglas MacArthur, the famous general in the Pacific, was run out of the Philippines but vowed to return. O The tide began to slowly turn with Doolittle’s Raid in the spring of 1942 with a Pearl Harbor style raid against Japan.

7. The War in the Pacific O Battle of Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway stopped Japanese advances in the Pacific. O After Midway, the Allies adopted a strategy of “island hopping” – advancing towards Japan taking one island at a time. O Guadalcanal was Japan’s first land loss. Losses of around 7,100 men in the 6 month battle.

9. The War in the Pacific O In the Leyte Gulf near the Philippines, MacArthur announced his return. O The Japanese put their entire fleet into the Battle of Leyte Gulf. They also introduced kamikaze pilots. O Despite their efforts, the Battle of Leyte Gulf put an end to major naval protection of Japan.

11. The War in the Pacific O Iwo Jima – Allies needed this island for an airbase to hit Japan. It was heavily guarded. More than 6,000 US marines were killed, and only 200 Japanese (out of 20,700) survived this battle. O Okinawa – Even worse than Iwo Jima – 7,100 US and 110,000 Japanese killed. O Americans fear the homeland invasion of Japan because of the potential number of lives lost.

13. The War in the Pacific O The US had been developing an atomic bomb for the war. The development was called “The Manhattan Project”.atomic bomb O Truman decides to use the bomb to hit Japan and end the war in the Pacific. O Hiroshima, a military center, and Nagasaki, and industrial center, were the first targets. O Japan surrenders after Nagasaki. More atomic bombs were planned if no surrender took place.