1. World War II: The Pacific Theater
John Ermer
U.S. History
Miami Beach Senior High School

2. Authoritarianism In Eurasia
Russia renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, in 1922—Communist government
Joseph Stalin becomes Soviet premier in 1924
Five Year Plan to build up economy
Collectivization
Sets eyes on conquest of eastern Europe
Japan needs more natural resources to help economy
Emperor Hirohito’s power=absolute (thought a god)
Prime Minister Tojo is military dictator for emperor
Japan under military control, begins conquering empire

4. American Neutrality Americans disillusioned by failure of World War I
Rise of dictators
Non-payment of debts during Great Depression
Nye Committee/Backlash against arms industry
Support of isolationism
Neutrality Act of 1935: illegal to sell arms abroad
Spanish Civil War erupts
Germany, Italy, & Japan form “Axis Powers”
Neutrality Act of 1937: All nonmilitary goods bought by warring nations on a “cash & carry” basis

5. Japan & Pearl Harbor
FDR restricts sale of strategic materials to Japan
Lend-lease to China
Japan, in need of resources, attacks British and Dutch colonies in eastern, southern Pacific
Japan attacks U.S. Philippines
December 7, 1941: Japan surprise attacks the American Pacific naval fleet at Pearl Harbor
The United States declares war on Japan
Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.A.

8. War In The Pacific
Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet
Plans to use surviving aircraft carriers against Japan
Cannot mobilize fast enough to stop Japan from taking S.E. Asia
Japan attacks U.S. bases in Philippines, land troops later
Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s troops hid in Bataan for 3 mos.
Gen. MacArthur evacuated to Australia
McArthur’s troops captured by Japanese, marched 65 miles
Philippines falls to Japan
Doolittle Raid
To raise morale, FDR orders bombing of Tokyo
April: 16 B-25s bomb Tokyo, land in China
Japan changes course
Japan no longer worried about cutting off supply lines
New plan is to lure U.S. fleet into battle by attacking Midway

10. Talking In Code Navajo “code talkers” used by U.S. Marine Corp
Japanese plan to cut U.S. supply lines to Australia by attacking New Guinea, but U.S. broke the secret code, Battle of Coral Sea
Aircraft Carriers Lexington & Yorktown attack Japanese fleet
Carriers eventually sunk, but Japanese stopped
Navajo “code talkers” used by U.S. Marine Corp
Japanese could not “crack” the Navajo code, orders stayed secret and were quickly transmitted
U.S. Code Breakers learn about attack on Midway
Japanese carriers sail into an ambush
1st wave of Japanese planes shot down by Americans
Four Japanese carriers sunk by American bombers
Battle of Midway was a turning point in the war
362 dead Americans, 3,057 dead Japanese

11. Island Hopping Two part plan to defeat the Japanese:
Admiral Nimitz’s Navy island hopping closer to Japan
Gen. McArthur to lead army to recapture Philippines
Amphtracs used to land Marines on coral atolls
: Marines take islands 1 by 1, move closer to Japan
B-29 “Superfortress” bomber, fly farther than other planes
MacArthur’s troops begin drive at Guadalcanal
Catch up to Navy and take New Guinea
Next stop: Philippines (land on 10/20/1944)
Japanese launch surprise attack, use kamikaze pilots
Early Japanese retreat saves U.S. at Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle for control of the Philippines lasts until end of war

15. War With Japan April 12, 1945: FDR dies of stroke in GA
Vice-President Harry S Truman sworn in as president
Bombing of Tokyo had been unsuccessful
U.S. needed closer airfields to accurately bomb Tokyo:
Island of Iwo Jima is perfect location
One of the hardest fought battles in the pacific
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue”~ Admiral Nimitz
General Le May orders B-29s to “firebomb”
Napalm firebombs controversial b/c of civilian casualties

17. War draws to a close… Invasion of Okinawa
After firebombing, Japan not ready to surrender
Okinawa seen as perfect spot from which to ready invasion of the Japanese homeland
Japanese take defensive position in mountains
Japanese want surrender with conditions, U.S. refuses
No surrender with Hirohito remaining in power
Manhattan Project may offer way out of invasion
Szilard & Einstein petition FDR
FDR commissions study of atomic energy
Oppenheimer leads bomb team at Los Alamos, NM

18. Hiroshima & Nagasaki Truman faced with tough choice:
Use a new weapon with unknown effects, or
Invade Japan and lose countless American lives
Allies warn Japan of “prompt and utter destruction”
Japan does not reply to request for surrender
August 6, 1945: B-29 Enola Gay drops “Little Boy” atomic bomb on Japanese city of Hiroshima
August 9, 1945: “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki
Soviet Union joined war earlier the same day
Japan surrenders six days later—V-J Day