World War II in
The Pacific Theater
Directions:
• Use the link provided in the notes section on
each slide to answer the discussion questions.
(Type your answers directly into the slide.)
• The slides are in chronological order
• Find one image you think summarizes the
event. Paste it to the slide.
Imperial Japan
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What is Japan’s “mission” sated in the opening quote? (In your own words)
How did the economic collapse affect Japan? How did Japan react to this?
Can one argue that July 1937 Marco Polo Bridge explosion is the actual start to WWII?
Why/why not?
Tripartite Pact =
What is Hideki Tojo’s position title in the leadership of Japan?
What is Hirohito’s position title in the leadership of Japan?
Don’t forget to find a great image!
Pearl Harbor
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Date:
What did the US use to bargain with the Japanese to end their expansionism? Did it work?
Why didn’t anyone expect the Japanese to make an attack on American territory?
Why did Japan choose to attack Pearl Harbor? (The big goal?).
Was the attack successful for Japan? (Did they accomplish their big goal?) Why?/Why not?
How did the U.S. respond to the attack?
Don’t forget to find a great image!
Douglas MacArthur
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Describe MacArthur based on the opening quote:
What was MacArthur’s job just before the war broke out?
What happened to the Philippines after the war broke out?
What did MacArthur accomplish in October 1944?
What is MacArthur’s “catch phrase”? What does it mean?
What was MacArthur’s role after the war? What did he accomplish in this role?
Don’t forget to find a great image!
Battle of Midway
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Date:
What is an “atoll”? (You’ll need to google this.)
How did the Americans know the Japanese were going to attack Midway?
Why is the location of Midway advantageous? (Hint: Think about the name of the island.)
How was this the turning point battle in the Pacific?
What is “Island-Hopping”?
Don’t forget to find a great image!
Iwo Jima
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What kind of island is Iwo Jima? (What is the terrain like?)
What system of infrastructure did the Japanese have set on/in the island of Iwo Jima?
Why are the islands so important for American forces to overtake?
What do “kamikaze” and “Benzai” charge mean? How do the Japanese use them?
(You may need to google this. You can look at general cases and not just on Iwo Jima)
Don’t forget to find a great image!
Okinawa
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Date:
What did US soldiers learn from Leyte about Japanese tactics?
What was the status of the war in Europe when the battle at Okinawa began?
What is a “battle of attrition”?
What did US B-29 crewmen use Iwo Jima for after it was captured?
How did Okinawa affect Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs?
Don’t forget to find a great image!
Anchor Activities
If you finish early:
• Start the WWII in North Africa PowerPoint
activity
• The Atlantic – Check out the AMAZING collection
of WWII photographs here.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/pages/ww2/
• Check out the political Dr. Seuss at
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/politicaldrseus
s/seuss_fla.html