1. Chapter 24 Section 3 The United States in World War II Riddlebarger
The War in the Pacific
Chapter 24
Section 3
The U.S. Enters WWII
Riddlebarger
Chapter 24
Section 3
The United States in World War II
Riddlebarger

2. A Slow Start For the Allies
The blow to the US fleet at Pearl Harbor takes months to overcome.
U.S. decision to focus on war in Europe slows progress in Pacific.
After Pearl Harbor, Japanese win a quick string of advances.

3. The Philippines
Early Japanese attacks are part of bigger plan to take U.S.-controlled islands of the Philippines.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur ordered to leave his troops and vows: “I shall return.
Less than a month later, they surrender on Bataan peninsula.
Sick and hungry, Japanese force troops to march 5 days & nights through steamy forests.
Thousands die in Bataan Death March

4. Bataan Death March

5. Doolittle’s Raid
The loss of the Philippines is a low point for the U.S. in the Pacific
Better news comes days later as James Doolittle leads a group of 16 U.S. bombers on daring air raid of Tokyo & several other Japanese cities.
While physical damage is minimal, psychologically it will lead to poor judgment of Japanese commanders in future.

7. Battle of the Coral Sea May 1942 battle features aircraft carriers.
Both sides suffer heavy damages
1st time Japanese advances stopped.

8. Battle of Midway
Concerned about future attacks on their mainland (e.g., Doolittle’s Raid), Japanese want to destroy U.S. carrier fleet.
Japanese have advantage in fleet size and airplanes.
US had broken Japanese naval code & learned of plans for attack.
3 of 4 Japanese carriers are destroyed.
Tremendous U.S. victory; lose only 1 carrier.
Midway changes balance of power in the Pacific
Now U.S. will begin advances against Japanese

9. Guadalcanal 1st step: win control of territory in Solomon Islands
Win here would help protect Australia & provide base for further efforts against Japanese.
Miserable to fight in: swamps, disease, hot.
Feb. ‘43: 6 months of fighting on land, air & sea lead to Japanese evacuation
From then on out, Japanese are on the run.

10. Allies Press On
At Guadalcanal (1943): US victory has Japanese on the run for the rest of the war
Allies will continue to use land, air & sea power to capture key islands.
Island Hopping
Take advantage of tremendous U.S. industrial power
We can replace what we lose, they can’t.
Allied gain in Europe allow more resources to be sent to Pacific.

11. Code Talkers
Hundreds of Native Americans in Marines serve as code talkers.
They were used to transmit valuable information.
The unwritten Navajo language was so complicated the Japanese couldn’t figure it out.
They were invaluable in winning the war

12. Back To the Philippines
By mid-1944, Gen. MacArthur is on the verge of being able to return to Philippines
Battle of Leyte Gulf is largest naval battle ever fought.
Japanese Navy will be left in ruins.

13. Kamikaze
Battle of Leyte Gulf sees 1st use of new Japanese weapon: Kamikaze
Japanese pilots load plane with bombs & deliberately crash it into enemy ship
Didn’t have major impact upon outcome of war.

14. Iwo Jima
Beginning in late 1944, massive new B-29 bombers begin making regular raids on Japanese cities.
To provide a better base to launch raids, U.S. sets out to capture Iwo Jima
Only 750 miles south of Tokyo

15. Iwo Jima For 1st time, Japanese are fighting to hold onto own land.
Fighting turns more intense.
Of 20,000 Japanese at beginning of battle, all but 1000 fight to the death.

16. Okinawa Okinawa is only 350 miles from Tokyo.
To capture it, U.S. will face bloodiest fighting yet.
About 12,000 Americans die.
110,000 Japanese die.
U.S. control of island in June 1945
Experiences here will shape the rest of war.

18. Questions Why did the Allies experience a slow start in the Pacific?
How did the Allies bring about a shift in their fortunes in the Pacific?
What were the major events that marked Allied progress in the late stages of the Pacific War?