Chapter 17 Section 3
The War in the Pacific
Refer to map on page 580
Brainstorm
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You enter the war in 1941.
You do not accomplish victory in Europe
until 1945.
How do you go about gaining victory over
Japan in the Pacific?
Objectives
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Identify key turning points in the war in
the Pacific.
Describe the Allied offensive against the
Japanese.
Explain both the development of the
atomic bomb and debates about its use.
Describe the challenges faced by the
Allies in building a just and lasting peace.
 The
War in the Pacific
The War in the Pacific
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Leaders:
MacArthur Page 583
Nimitz
Hirohito
April 1942, Bataan
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Leader:
MacArthur
Remember we entered war in 1941 &
Germany does not fall until 1945
Allies hold out for 4 months against
invading Japanese forces before
abandoning peninsula
14k dead / 48k wounded
April 1942, Bataan
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On April 3, 1942, General Homma finally
launched his long-awaited (by both the
Japanese high command and the
Americans) final push to crush the
Philippines. He easily broke through the
final line of resistance of the Fil-American
troops on Bataan, but he did so because
of the deplorable state of the defending
forces facing him.
June 1942, Midway
Obj #1 & 2
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Leader:
Nimitz
Allies broke Japanese code
Americans turned back Japanese invasion
headed toward Hawaii
Beginning of Island Hopping Strategy to
take back Japanese gains in the Pacific
August 1942, Guadalcanal
Obj. #1
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Leader:
MacArthur
Americans dealt Japan their first defeat on
land
August 1942, Guadalcanal
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The theme of Guadalcanal as the turning point. From the
slim victories by small forces; from the discipline and
ability of Marines to hold on despite hunger, fatigue and
disease; from the resolution of U.S. airmen and seamen
who were often outnumbered but never outfought; and
from the fact that, at this ultimate single point of
extension and conflict, the United States, straining its
utmost, as against Japan straining its utmost, could
exert a few more ounces of effort--from this aggregate
came victory, not only on Guadalcanal, but ultimately in
the whole Pacific
October 1944, Leyte Gulf
page578
Obj #1
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Leader:
MacArthur
Japanese resort to kamikaze
Entire Japanese fleet involved
Japan lost 3 Battleships, 4 Aircraft Carriers
& 500 planes
Devastating blow to Japan’s Navy
Americans retook the Philippines
March 1945, Iwo Jima
page 582
Obj. #1
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Leader:
MacArthur
Fierce battle but Allies take island from
Japan
To the Japanese leadership, the capture of
Iwo Jima meant the battle for Okinawa,
and the invasion of Japan itself, was not
far off.
March 1945, Iwo Jima
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Iwo Jima, which means sulfur island, was strategically
important as an air base for fighter escorts supporting
long-range bombing missions against mainland Japan.
Because of the distance between mainland Japan and
U.S. bases in the Mariana Islands, the capture of Iwo
Jima would provide an emergency landing strip for
crippled B-29s returning from bombing runs. The seizure
of Iwo would allow for sea and air blockades, the ability
to conduct intensive air bombardment and to destroy the
enemy's air and naval capabilities.
June 1945, Okinawa
Obj #1
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Leader:
MacArthur
Allies take island back from Japan
Map on page 580 indicates importance
7.6K Americans die
110k Japanese die / kamikaze & suicide
September 1945, Tokyo Bay
Obj. #3
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Leaders:
MacArthur / Hirohito
Japan officially / unconditionally
surrenders
U.S. Battleship Missouri
Democratic Constitution & Women vote
Change Economy / occupation
 The
Science of War
The Science of War
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Leaders:
Truman
Oppenheimer
July 1945, Los Alamos
Obj. #3
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Leader: Oppenheimer
1st Atomic bomb built completing the
Manhattan Project
$2 Billion Dollars
120K employees
37 different installations including US &
Canada
 Interim
Committee
Other Courses Besides Dropping
the Bomb
Obj. #3
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Massive Invasion
Naval Blockade
Continued Conventional Bombing
“A” bomb demonstration
Conditional Surrender
Reasons to Drop the Bomb
Obj. #3
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Save lives & prevent casualties
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Churchill predicts 1.5M after Okinawa
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Save $ and supplies
A dud demo bomb would be an
embarrassment
Display power to Russians
Revenge for Pearl Harbor & war deaths
August 1945, Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Obj. #3
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Leader:
Truman
1st Atomic Bombs dropped
August 6 Hiroshima: 70k dead, 70k
injured, uranium, Little Boy
August 9 Nagasaki: 40K dead, plutonium,
Fat Man
 Planning
the Rebuilding
Peace
Planning the Rebuilding
Peace
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Leaders:
FDR
Stalin
Churchill
Jackson
Truman
February 1945, Yalta
Obj. #4
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Leaders: FDR, Stalin, Churchill
Important decisions about postwar world
Stalin wanted Germany separated into
Occupation Zones by Allies so Germany
would not threaten USSR again
FDR gave into Stalin for Soviet support
against Japan & promise of free elections
in Poland
April 1945, San Francisco
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United Nations Established
1945-1949, Nuremberg
page 586
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Leader:
Jackson
24 Nazi leaders tried for wartime crimes
12/24 sentenced to death
Trials were imperfect but…
U.S. Supreme Ct Justice Jackson:
individuals are responsible for their own
actions even in times of war