World War II in the Pacific
What actions did the Japanese take in the
months after bombing Pearl Harbor?
• Invaded Clark Field in the Philippines
• Invaded and took control of the Philippine
Islands
Pearl Harbor (p. 754)
Japanese
Expansion
Before World
War II
Bataan Death March
• On Philippine Island
• Led to the deaths of
10,000+ Filipino and
American prisoners
How did the Allies stop the Japanese
from overrunning Australia?
• Battle of the Coral Sea - US Navy sank one
Japanese aircraft carrier and severely
damaged two others
• Prevented Japanese from establishing bases
needed to bomb Australia from prior to an
invasion
Battle of the Coral Sea
• Both navies
not in sight of
each other
• Aircraft carrier
vs. Aircraft
carrier
• Strategic US
victory
• Tactical draw
• Prevented
Japanese
invasion of
Australia
Map 26.5 World War II in the Pacific, 1941–1942 (p. 772)
How did the Allies turn the tide of the
war in the Pacific?
• Critical victory at Midway Island (June
1942) - prevented any more Japanese
offensive actions in the Pacific
• Allowed the Allies to take the offensive in
the Pacific
Battle of Midway
• June 1942 - major US victory Admiral Nimitz
• US intercepted Japanese code and
were waiting when Japanese fleet
arrived
• 4 Japanese carriers sunk
• Allowed Allies to take the
offensive in the Pacific.
Map 26.6 World War II in the Pacific, 1943–1945 (p. 773)
What success did the Allies have with
their island-hopping strategy?
• Great success - heavy casualties
• Put them in a position to reach Japan with
long range bombers.
Battle of Guadalcanal
• Aug 1942-Feb 1943
• Brutal island fighting
• US victory - demonstrated
US ability to take control
of Japanese held islands
• Prevented Japanese from
establishing bases from
which to invade Australia
Pacific War: 1941-1944
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United States Advances in the
Pacific, 1942–1945
How did the decision to build and use the atomic
bombs on Japan come about?
• Suggestion from Albert Einstein moved
FDR to authorize development of an atomic
bomb
• Scientific and technological ability
• Advisory group could not recommend any
alternatives.
Battle of Iwo Jima
• Bloody fighting
• Famous picture
• Movie:
– Sands of Iwo Jima
– Flags of our Fathers
• Opened way for potential
invasion of Japan
• Demonstrated how costly
invasion could be in terms
of human life
Battle of Okinawa
• Bloody fighting
• Opened way for
potential invasion of
Japan
• Demonstrated how
costly invasion could
be in terms of human
life
Iwo Jima and Okinawa
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World War II in the Pacific
World War II in the Pacific
kamikaze
• Japanese for “divine
wind” - religious
significance historically
• Suicide pilots intended
to destroy enemy (US)
ships
• Damaged some ships
but did not alter
outcome of battles at sea
What effects did dropping the atomic
bombs have?
• Destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
• Led to Japanese surrender (August 14, 1945
- official September 2, 1945)
• Killed and injured thousands of Japanese
Manhattan Project
• Top secret project that
led to the development
of the first atomic
bomb - tested July
1945 in Los Alamos,
New Mexico
• Best scientists,
physicists, engineers
Hiroshima and
Nagasaki
Hiroshima (p. 776)
Manhattan Project
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Atomic Bomb Ends World War 2
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