1. Pacific Theater
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: How were the U.S. and its Allies able to achieve victory in WWII? What were the major effects of WWII on America and the world?

2. TEKS and Objectives We will… I will…
(7B) evaluate the domestic and international leadership of Harry Truman during WWII (7D) analyze the development of atomic weapons (7E) analyze major military events of WWII (7F) evaluate the military contributions of leaders during WWII (7G) explain contributions of Navajo Code Talkers (27B) explain how specific needs result in scientific discoveries/technological innovations
Summarize the causes and effects of WWII

3. The War in Asia and the Pacific
After Pearl Harbor
Japan achieved quick victories in the Pacific
took over Malaya Burma, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the Western Pacific Islands
Threatened Australia, India, Midway, and Hawaii

4. The Bataan Death March, 1942 The Philippines Bataan Death March
Invaded the same day as Pearl Harbor
U.S./Filipino forces surrendered to Japan one month later
Bataan Death March
POWs (prisoners of war) forced to march 60 miles through the jungle
Faced starvation, disease, exposure to the sun, no water
5,000 (almost half) Americans died
Some bayoneted, shot, beheaded, or just left to die

9. The War Turns Against Japan
“Island Hopping”
U.S. liberated Pacific islands, one at a time
Regained naval superiority by 1943
The Navaho Code Talkers
U.S. needed undecipherable code to communicate
Navajo language is unwritten/complex
U.S. transmitted messages by telephone/radio in Navajo language

10. The Battle of Midway Turning point of the war in the Pacific
Japanese planned to lure U.S. Pacific fleet into battle
U.S. Navy deciphered Japanese codes and learned about surprise attack
Admiral Chester Nimitz
Commanded U.S. forces at the Battle of Midway
Destroyed four of Japans aircraft carriers
Ended Japan’s superior strength in the Pacific

11. Other Important Figures of WWII
General Douglas MacArthur
Commanded U.S. Army in the Pacific
campaign in the Solomon Islands with Nimitz
Drained Japanese resources
Retook Philippines and Guam
Victory at Iwo Jima and Okinawa
Islands close enough to launch attacks against Japan

12. Other Important Figures of WWII
George C. Marshall
Acted as Chief of Staff and “organizer of victory”
Worked closely with President
Helped oversee the creation of the first atomic bomb

13. The Atomic Bomb Albert Einstein The Manhattan Project
Sent a letter to President Roosevelt in saying Germany might be developing atomic bomb
The Manhattan Project
Team of American scientists (several European refugees) sent to New Mexico
Developed and exploded the world’s first atomic bomb in July 1945
Germany had been defeated; U.S. preparing to invade Japan

14. The Atomic Bomb President Harry S. Truman Hiroshima and Nagasaki
FDR died suddenly in April 1945 (before Germany’s surrender)
Truman feared invasion would lead to a million American casualties
Opted to use atomic bomb
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Centers of Japanese military production
230,000 killed in both explosions
Critics argued Truman should have targeted unoccupied islands as “warnings”
Japan surrendered shortly after; Japanese Emperor allowed to remain on his throne

15. The Use of Technology in WWII  Allies’ Success
Radar
Detected moving object’s range, altitude, and direction
Sonar
Improved to detect submarines
Cryptic Code Breaking
Allowed Allies to decipher secret messages
Later contributed to development of computers

16. The Use of Technology in WWII  Allies’ Success
Proximity Fuze
Device that explodes when close to target
Helped fight Japanese aircraft
Antibiotics
Ex. Penicillin
Used to treat battle wounds
Massed produced in WWII to treat soldiers in the invasion of Normandy
Jet and Rocket Engines
Developed before the war
Used extensively in WWII

17. The Legacy of World War II
The Nuremberg Trials ( )
Surviving Nazi leaders put on trial “for crimes against humanity”
Accused claimed they had only been following orders
Many found guilty, hanged/imprisoned
Demonstrated individuals responsible for their actions, even in times of war

18. Read this statement by one of the U. S
Read this statement by one of the U.S. prosecutors at the military trials in Nuremberg.
“Germany became one vast torture chamber. Cries of its victims were heard throughout the world and brought shudders to civilized people. I am one who received most atrocity tales with suspicion and [doubt]. But the proof here will be so overwhelming that I predict these defendant will only deny person responsibility. The elements of the German population which were both decent and courageous were [reduced to nothing]. Those which were decent but weak were intimidated. The Nazis not only silenced discordant voices, they practiced the [leadership principle] which centralized control of the Party over the lives and thoughts of the German people. This German State is incomprehensible to my people [the United States public]…” The prosecutor says these Nazi leaders did not deserve mercy. Would you have agreed? Explain your answer.

19. The Legacy of World War II
“Denazification” and the Division of Germany
Germany divided in to 4 occupation zones by U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union
Introduced programs explaining evils of Nazi belief to German people

20. The Legacy of World War II
The Occupation of Japan
General MacArthur assigned to rebuild and reform Japan
Japan lost overseas empire
Military leaders put on trial/punished
Forbidden from having large army/navy
Japan became a democracy