War in the Pacific - Mr. Greaves' Social Studies Site
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Transcript War in the Pacific - Mr. Greaves' Social Studies Site
War in the Pacific
Objective: How did the Allies
defeat the Japanese in the Pacific?
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.
Conquered parts of southeast Asia within
months
March, 1942 – MacArthur withdrew from
the Philippines to Australia
US troops on Bataan surrendered shortly
after MacArthur left. Endured brutal
Bataan Death March
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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