1. War in the Pacific Objective: analyze the events that occurred in the Pacific and how Japan was defeated

2. What was the extent of Japanese conquests by 1942? Japanese launched attacks throughout the Pacific at the same time as the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bombed American airfields in the Philippines Conquered parts of southeast Asia within months

3. March, 1942 – MacArthur withdrew from the Philippines to Australia US troops on Corregidor surrendered shortly after MacArthur left. Endured brutal Bataan Death March

4. How did the Allies turn the tide of the war against Japan? April, 1942 – Doolittle’s led air raid on Japanese cities including Tokyo Air raid did little damage but shocked Japanese leaders and boosted morale for the Allies

6. Why was the Battle of Coral Sea unique? Battle of the Coral Sea – first time in history, enemy ships fought each other without seeing each other. Launched war planes from aircraft carriers to fight. American’s blocked Japanese push toward Australia

7. What was the turning point of the war in the Pacific? Battle of Midway – June, 1942 US navy destroyed 4 Japanese carriers and 250 planes

9. How did island hopping help the Allies gain control in the Pacific? Island hopping – invade islands that were not heavily defended by the Japanese. Use captured islands to stage further attacks. Code Talkers – Navajo Indians accompanied troops into battle and helped them communicate safely. Japanese could not break the code.

10. October, 1944 – Allied forces invaded the Philippines. Allies won Japan increased use of new weapon during this battle, kamikaze - suicide pilots, but could not stop the Allied advances

11. What was the military significance of the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa? Early, 1945 – Japanese defenses weakened Allies need to establish bases closer to mainland to attack Japan Feb. 1945 – US marines invade Iwo Jima April, 1945 – US marines invade Okinawa

13. What was the purpose of the Manhattan Project? Manhattan Project – top-secret program to build an atomic bomb Developed in a secret location in Los Alamos, New Mexico

14. What prompted American officials to use the atomic bomb? Allies planned to invade Japan in Nov., 1945 American military leaders feared an invasion might cost 200,000 American lives Truman delivered an ultimatum to Japan – surrender or face destruction

15. Japan would not surrender August 6, 1945 – atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima Killed more than 70,000 people; turned 5 square miles into a wasteland

16. August 9, 1945 – second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki –killing another 40,000 August 14, 1945 – Japan surrendered Sept. 2, 1945 – Japan signed official letter of surrender aboard the US battleship Missouri

18. Human Costs of WWII Most destructive conflict in history More than 55 million died More than half were civilians About 28 million soldiers and civilians died in the European Theatre About 27 million soldiers and civilians died in the Pacific Theatre

19. About 322,000 Americans died, and 800,000 were wounded Soviet Union – at least 18 million people died ; perhaps millions more Holocaust: about 6 million Jews died in Nazi concentration and death camps

20. Atomic Bombs: bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed between 115,000 and 194,000 people. Thousands more suffered burns and illness caused by atomic energy.

21. Summary What was the strategy of island hopping, and what was its purpose? What was the Manhattan Project? Why were the battles on the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa significant to Americans? Activity suggestions: illustrate island hopping; design announcement for the end of the war