1. Japan Strikes in the Pacific
Chapter 16 Section 2

2. Japan Seeks A Pacific Empire
Japan was overcrowded and faced shortages of raw materials.
To solve the problem, Japan looked to build a Pacific Empire.
In 1931, Japan took over Manchuria in northeastern China and began looking toward the European colonies of Southeast Asia.

3. Japanese Empire was dependant on acquiring resources
WHY?
The U.S. oil embargo directly threatened Japanese control of the Pacific
Japan hopes to take out the entire U.S. Navy by attacking Pearl Harbor

4. Attack on Pearl Harbor
To Japan, the US Fleet in Hawaii was “a dagger pointed at our throat” and must be destroyed.
December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.”
Within 2 hours, 18 ships, including 8 battleships had been sunk or damaged.
2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,000 injured.

5. Important Person:
Isoroku Yamamoto: Japan’s Admiral—military leader/naval specialist

7. U.S. declares war on Japan December 8, 1941

8. The Tide of Japanese Victories
After Pearl Harbor, Japan seized Guam and Wake Island.
In January of 1942, they seized the Philippines.
By February, they reached Singapore and by March had conquered the Dutch East Indies and Burma.
Bataan Death March—hari-kari

10. What strategy did the Americans use to defeat the Japanese?
What would this warfare be like for the Americans and Japanese?
What weapons would be important for the battle in the Pacific?

12. The Allie Strike Back
Lt. James Doolittle bombed Tokyo and other major Japanese cities (little damage)
American morale increased
Battle of Coral Sea: new warfare—airplanes taking off from huge aircraft carriers did fighting. Outcome—draw(Japan declared victory) BUT, Japan’s southward expansion stopped!

13. The Battle of Midway
US Admiral Chester Nimitz broke a Japanese code and learned of over 150 ships heading toward Midway Island, near Hawaii.
A US attack mainly from aircraft carriers was able to destroy 332 Japanese planes, all 4 aircraft carriers and 1 support ship.
“The Americans had avenged Pearl Harbor.”—turning point in the Pacific

14. The Allies Go on the Offensive
General Douglas MacArthur devised a plan to “island-hop” past Japanese strongholds.
The plan was to cut-off supply lines and starve enemy troops.
“Hit ‘em where they ain’t, let ‘em die on the vine.” –MacArthur

15. ISLAND HOPPING and the JAPANESE
Required numerous amphibious assaults against a dug in Japanese military with a kamikaze mentality
Pacific Islands
Thick tropical jungles
Very hot and humid
Usually mountainous with many caves
Very far away from any U.S. land base

16. The battle lasted 6 months. Japan lost 23,000 of 36,000 men.
Guadalcanal
August 7, 1942, 19,000 US soldiers with Australian support landed at Guadalcanal.
The battle lasted 6 months.
Japan lost 23,000 of 36,000 men.
“the island of death.”

29. The Allies Turn the Tide of War
In May of 1942, the Americans and Australians prevented a Japanese takeover of Port Moresby.
In the Battle of the Coral Sea, Allied planes were able to stop Japan’s southward expansion for the first time.

30. Hitler’s goals included more than just conquering Europe.
Meanwhile...
In Europe, Hitler was moving ahead with his plans for a new order in Europe.
Hitler’s goals included more than just conquering Europe.
The Fuhrer had plans for dealing with those he considered unfit for the Third Reich.