WORLD WAR II:THE PACIFIC THEATER

1. Setting the Stage: Aggression in Asiaa. 1931: Japan invaded Manchuria (NE province of China rich in minerals)b. 1937: Japan invaded China who was experiencing a civil warc. Japan needed raw materials especially oil to be #1 in Asia

THE PACIFIC THEATER

2. Attack at Pearl Harbora. Japan had hoped to cripple the US Pacific Fleetb. Several carriers were out to sea when Japan attacked on 12/7/41c. Japan also attacked Guam, Wake Island, Midway Islands and the

Philippine Islands on the same dayd. Once the home front mobilization hit high production, Japan truly did

awaken a sleeping giant

THE PACIFIC THEATER

JAMES DOOLITTLE

3. Doolittle Raida. James Doolittle led a raid on Tokyo with B-25 bombersb. Helped boost American moralec. Showed the Japanese were not invincibled. Inflicted little damage to the city

THE PACIFIC THEATER

GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR

4. Island Hoppinga. The Supreme Allied Commander for the Pacific Theater was General

Douglas MacArthurb. The US adopted the Island Hopping or Leap Frog strategy moving from

island to islandc. The fighting in the Pacific was difficult for several reasons:

i. 100 degree heat – humidity caused jungle rot and diseasesii. Many islandsiii. Japanese motto “Death before Dishonor”iv. Kamikaze attacks: suicide attacks damaged 300 ships and caused 15,000 casualties

v. 20:47-23-19

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KAMIKAZE

5. Key Victories for the Alliesa. Battle of Midway

i. Japanese hoped to use Midway as a base to neutralize Pearl Harborii. Balance of power in the Pacific shifted towards the alliesiii. 25:00-30:04

b. Battle of Guadalcanali. The Japanese advance was stoppedii. All momentum shifted to the US

c. Battle of Iwo Jimai. 20,500 Japanese killed and 6,000 US Lives lostii. Put Americans within striking distance of Japanese home islands

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BATTLE OF MIDWAY

BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL

BATTLE OF IWO JIMA

6. Possible Options for Finishing off the Japanesea. Invasion of Japan which could cost over 1,000,000 Allied soldiersb. Use of the Atomic Bomb (secret)

c. 1:19:20-1:26:53

THE PACIFIC THEATER