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Attack on Pearl Harbor
Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American base in Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. Nearly 20 vessels were destroyed including 8 battleships and over 300 airplanes. Over 2,000 soldiers died and 1,000 were wounded. The next day President FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan, three days later Germany and Italy declares war on the US.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor# -
The Island Hopping Strategy
Also known as leapfrogging, the idea came from General MacArthur and it was bypassing heavily fortified islands in favor of less secure islands then cutting of the supplies to the more defended islands and bombing them, allowing them to be captured.
Source: the notes -
Executive Order 9066
FDR issued the order two weeks after Pearl harbor. It authorized the removal of any or all people form military areas "as deemed necessary or desirable." he military targeted the entire West Coast which was home to the majority of Americans of Japanese decent or citizenship. In four months nearly 110,000 Japanese Americans were moved to internment camps.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roosevelt-signs-executive-order-9066 -
The Battle at Midway
This battle was the turning point for the war in the Pacific and the turning point that stopped Japanese expansion. It was a carrier force air battle that turned the tide as an American victory.
Source: the notes -
Battle of Guadalcanal
It was the first major offensive and victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater and was the turning point of the Pacific war.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-guadalcanal -
MacArthur returns to the Philippines
After MacArthur had been forced to evacuate and abandon his troops at the Battle of the Philippines he promised to return. He fulfilled this promise when he came ashore on the island of Leyte.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/macarthur-returns -
Battle of Iwo Jima
First major battle to take place in Japan. The island was needed because Iwo Jima was a strategic location for fighter planes and bombers for attacking Japan. The US brought over 30,000 marines but the Japanese had dug tunnels all over the island. The US secured the island after 36 days of fighting.
Source: http://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/battle_of_iwo_jima.php -
Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
At the Potsdam Conference the US presented Japan with an ultimatum to surrender or they would drop bombs. Japan refused to comply and "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima on August 9th. When this received no response "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki three days later. On August 15th the Japanese emperor announced his surrender in a radio broadcast.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki
