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Selective Service and Training Act
This was the first peacetime conscription in US history. Men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to register at their local draft boards. If any man was drafted they had to serve for 12 months. -
Attack at Pearl Harbor
Six aircraft carriers were launched from 200 miles north of Hawaii onto Pearl Harbor. No one was aware that these were Japanese aircrafts because they thought they were American B-17s flying in from California. Torpedoes were launched at docked American warships. -
Roosevelt's Speech to Congress
The day after the attack at Pearl Harbor President Roosevelt gave a sppech telling Americans about the entry into World War II. He said that December 7th, 1941 will be a date that will live in infamy. He also expressed the fact that he was a little confused that the attack occurred. -
Executive Order 9066
This order allowed the Department of War to arrest every Japanese American on the West Coast. Eleven thousand men, women, and children were arrested, but only three-fourths of them had been born in the US and were US citizens. The ones born in Japan were not allowed to become American citizens. -
The Bataan Death March
After the Battle of Bataan in the Phillippines, 78,000 American and Filipino prisoners were forced to march 65 miles to a Japanese prison camp. All the prisoners were sick, exhausted, and starving. On this march approximately 10,000 troops died. -
Dolittle Raids
A few weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans made their first attack on Japan from the air. The raid was led by Lieutenant Colonel James Dolittle. Sixteen B-25B Mitchell medium bombers were launched from the USS Hornet. Military targets in Japan and some land in China was bombed. -
The Battle of Midway
Regarded as the most important naval battle of World War II. The Japanese launched an aircraft carrier offensive to cut off American communications, and to further isolate Hawaii. This battle lasted for about 3 days, and the Japanese lost four aircraft carriers. This battle broke the back of the Japanese navy. -
"Island-hopping"
After the Battle of Midway the US came up with a counter offensive strategy to get their ultimate target. This plan was to attack in a leap-frog fashion. The US Navy invaded strategic islands and bypassed others. -
The Battle of the Bulge
German troops launched a massive counteroffensive to the Allies rushing acroos France. This was the last-stand made by the Germans. Hitler wanted to attack the British-American alliance, which he felt would break the forces of the Allied forces. Nearly, 80,00 Americans were killed. -
Korematsu v. U.S.
After the Executive Order 9066, Fred Korematsu felt that his rights had been violated. He took his case all the way to the Sumpreme Court. The court upheld the interment order by a six to three vote in the case. On the 8th of December the Supreme Court ruled that the War Relocation Authority had no right to incarcerate law-abiding citizens. -
V-E Day
This day may be known as Victory in Europe Day. This marks the end of World War II in Europe. The day the Germans surrendered and a victory came for the Allie forces. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the finals days of World War II Americans planned two atomic bombings against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The use of nuclear weapons in these two events were the only records of the use of atomic bombs. -
V-J Day
Victory over Japan Day was the day the Japanese surrendered. This effectivley ended World War II. This name was chosen after the name for the European victory was chosen.
