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
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
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.
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
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
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