War in the Pacific
• 1) Identify the extent of Japanese expansion in
the Pacific by identifying the most western,
southern, and eastern borders of that
expansion.
• 2) Define Island Hopping and identify two
islands taken by the US and explain each
island’s strategic importance
• 3) Identify Bushido and evaluate if it helped or
hurt the Japanese war effort.
Jap. Offensive- after Pearl Harbor, Japan takes more land in Pacific
• Philippines-(Dec-Apr 42) US colony, US holds out for 5 months, US vows to
return
– *Bataan Death March- 85 mile forced march to Prison camp for US,
Eng., and Aus. POWs, 140,000 soldiers died
• *Why did the Japanese allow so many prisoners of war to die from
preventable deaths?
– Bushido- code of honor (Japanese believe in death before surrender,
surrender is cowardly and reflects on family forever, those who do
surrender are cowards and deserve to die
• *March 42- Japan controls much of Asia and Pacific
Battle of Midway-June 42 Japan tries to attack weak US navy after
Pearl Harbor and capture Island of Midway
Why is Midway Island so strategically important?
– *Turning point of the war- US wins in a major air battle and puts
Japan on defensive rest of the war
• Analyze how the fighting in the Pacific will be different from any other naval
war before WWII. (Think- what is the new weapon that is most important
and what ship carries that weapon? How is that weapon better than a
boat?)
– Airplane and Aircraft Carrier ( Japan lost 4 aircraft carriers, the US lost one)
• Evaluate what would have happened if Japan won the Battle of Midway?
Island Hopping- strategy for the US to reach Japan by landing island to
island and cleaning each island of Japanese military power
• Battle of Guadalcanal (Aug 42-Feb. 43)- Japan building an airstrip to
bomb Australia in Solomon Islands
• Why is Australia so important for the US in the war against Japan?
– *US wins major land battle against Jap. (US realizes it should not
• Battle of Leyte Gulf- US takes back the Phil.
– *Kamikazee- Japan suicide planes, sank 30 US ships and damaged
hundreds more
• Analyze why Kamikazee is a losing fighting strategy? Why do you
feel Japanese participated in these suicide missions?
• *Jap. Navy almost completely destroyed, Jap. showing no sign of
giving up
• Iwo Jima (Feb 1945) island would allow US planes
to bomb Japan (Japan expected attack and poured
troops to Island)
– *US marines suffered 20,000 casualties but took the
island after 1 month
– *US starts firebombing Tokyo (75,000 die in June raids)
• Okinawa (Apr.-June 45)- final island needed to
invade Japan
– *US suffered 55,000 casualties, Japan 100,000 (10,000
Jap. Soldiers jumped off cliffs rather than surrender)
• Japan showing no sign off surrender
• How do you get an enemy to surrender who refuses to accept
surrender?