2. The Asian Pacific Conflict

3. Japan is a densely populated and mountainous archipelago.

4. A lack of natural resources and agricultural land push the country to seek wealth elsewhere.

5. How would Japan do this? During the 1920s, the country was divided into two factions:

6. 1. Liberals - bankers and capitalists who believe they must trade for resources

7. 2. Militarists – who thought they must conquer to get new territories

8. In 1932, Japan invaded Manchuria.

9. Fearing communism, Japan signed an Anti-Comintern Pact with Hitler in 1936.

10. In 1937, it captured more territory from China.

11. American reaction?

12. The US limits its exports, which angers Japan.

13. A. Oil B. Steel C. Copper D. Industrial equipment

14. In 1939, while the world watched Hitler in Poland, Japan invaded Indochina (present-day Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam)

15. In 1940, Japan’s conquest continued. A. French Indochina. B. British Malaya & Burma. C. The Dutch East Indies

16. Roosevelt reacts….

17. 1. He sends his Pacific Fleet to Pearl Harbour.

18. 2. He imposes an embargo on Japan.

19. A. Create a sphere of influence in South-East Asia B. Force out the Europeans C. Gain control over natural resources D. To dominate all S-EAsian markets Hirohito’s dream … an empire

20. Faced with this crisis Japan has two options:

21. 1. Negotiate

22. 2. Wage war

23. To win, Japan wanted a war that would be... quick apide decisive and

24. Why?

25. 1. America’s industrial superiority

26. 2. Japan’s lack of natural resources

27. Japan would lose in a long and drawn out conflict against the US

28. How can Japan defeat an opponent this powerful? !

29. A surprise attack against a military and industrial giant

30. On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It is a partial success. Much of the American Pacific fleet is destroyed.

31. This allows Japan to continue its conquests.

32. It takes a year for the US to regroup and rebuild its fleet and repel the Japanese

33. The most important weapons in this theatre of war are aircraft carriers

34. …and aircraft

35. The US must capture island after island, which is a long and a very costly waste of human lives

36. The battles

37. 1. Pearl Harbor - surprise Japanese attack December 7, 1941

38. 2. Battle of the Coral Sea- first time the Japanese advance was stopped- May 1942

39. 3. Battle of Midway – US destroys 4 of Japan’s aircraft carriers- June 1942

40. 4. Iwo Jima – The US captures the island but 20 000 marines are killed- this allows easy bombing of Japan February1945

41. 5. Hiroshima and Nagasaki – The US drops 2 atomic bombs killing about 350 000 people – Japan surrenders August 1945

42. Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki

43. Before the bomb After

44. The present-day park at the epicentre of the bombing in Hiroshima.

45. I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb... It is an awful responsibility which has come to us... We thank God that it has come to us, instead of to our enemies; and we pray that He may guide us to use it in His ways and for His purposes. — Harry S. Truman August 9, 1945