1. World War II
The Pacific Theater

2. The Pacific Theater Setting the Stage: Aggression in Asia
1931: Japan invaded Manchuria (NE province in China rich in resources)
1937: Japan invades China, who was experiencing a Civil War
Japan needed raw materials, especially oil to be #1 in Asia

4. The Pacific Theater 2. Attack at Pearl Harbor
Japan had hoped to cripple the US Pacific Fleet
Several carriers were out at sea when Japan attacked on Dec 7, 1941
Japan also attacked Guam, Wake Island, MIdway Islands, and the Philippine ISlands on the same day
Japan awakens a sleeping giant

5. The European Theater
1941: U.S. attempted to stop Japan’s invasion of China (in Civil War)
Sent ultimatum (warning)
Issued a scrap metal and oil embargo

6. The European Theater U.S. began a full trade embargo against Japan
By Aug. 1941: Indo-China fell to Japan
U.S. began a full trade embargo against Japan
Japan responded by:
Sending a negotiator to Washington D.C.
Preparing for an attack on the U.S. (decoded message)

7. Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor

8. The European Theater
December 7th, 1941: Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
U.S. Pacific Fleet was based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
Attack was meant to cripple U.S. fleet so couldn’t interfere with Japan
U.S. declared war on Japan the next day “…Date that will live in Infamy…”
Germany & Italy declared war on the U.S. on Dec 8, (Tripartite Pact)
The U.S. was officially in the war! (Isolationism was over)

11. U.S.S. Arizona

12. U.S.S. Arizona Today

13. Fighting in the Pacific was difficult
Island Hopping
The Supreme Allied Commander for the Pacific Theater was Gen. MacArthur
US adopts Island Hopping or Leap Frog strategy moving from island to island
Fighting in the Pacific was difficult
100 degree heat, humidity, jungle rot, diseases
Many islands
Japanese :”Death before dishonor”
Kamikazi attacks

15. Battle of the Coral Sea Both sides suffered equally
Considered a victory for the Allies because the battle stopped the Japanese advance south.

16. The Pacific Theater Key Victories for Allies Battle of Midway
Japanese hoped to use Midway as a base to neutralize Pearl Harbor and gain control of the Pacific
Balance of power in the Pacific shifts to the Allies
Major turning point in Pacific Theater

17. The Pacific Theater Battle of Guadalcanal
i. The Japanese advance was stopped  Momentum shifted to the US

18. The Pacific Theater Possible options for finishing off the Japanese
Invasion of Japan, could cost over 1,000,000 Allied soldiers
Use of the Atomic Bomb