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Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the U.S Navy's main base in the Pacific. They attacked in two waves-- the first targeting the battle ships and the aircraft carriers, the second finishing off whatever was left. The attack left 2,402 killed, 1,282 wounded, 155 aircraft, 2 destroyers, & 11 ships damaged, and 188 aircraft destroyed. Their objective was to prevent the U.S from influencing Japan's war effort in Southeast Asia. As a result, President Roosevelt finally declared war on Japan. -
Japanese Internment Camps
During the war, German, Italian, and Japanese Americans were deported or arrested if they were deemed dangerous. 100,000 Japanese Americans were forced into temporary imprisonment. The prisoners had to sell their property at a loss to live in these internment camps. A Japanese American named Korematsu fought for his rights. In the case Korematsu v. U.S, the Supreme Court upheld wartime internment in December of 1945, and the final camp closed on March 20th, 1946. -
The Bataan Death March
Douglas MacArthur was the commander in Asia when the Japanese forces took the Philippines. MacArthur was not prepared for the strength of the Japanese. They had to retreat to the Bataan peninsula, but MacArthur had to leave his troops for Australia. The 75,00 men surrendered and were forced to march 55 miles for days. 7,000 U.S soldiers died on this brutal journey, so it was called the Bataan Death March. -
The Doolittle Raid
Colonel James Doolittle had planned an arial attack on Tokyo. Japanese forces detected the planes early in the daytime. Instead of attacking at night as they had planned, Doolittle led the bombers into Tokyo and attacked that day. After killing 50 Japanese citizens and damaging 100 buildings, the pilots crash-landed in China. This attack was merely terrorism, so the U.S had very little military gain, but it boosted their morale. -
Battle of Coral Sea
Japan moved to take New Guinea, because they could attack the United States from there. The U.S sent two aircraft carriers to fight. The fighting went on for two whole days but the ships never actually saw each other; only the planes engaged in battle. The battle was a draw, but Japan called off the attack. This four day battle shifted the momentum to the United States for the first time. -
The Manhattan Project
U.S scientists began the billion dollar assembly of an atomic bomb. General Leslie Groves was in charge of building the facilities, and Robert J. Oppenheimer was in charge of the scientific part. The Manhattan Project took place in Oak Ridge, TN. After the first test run, seen from 180 miles away and heard from 100 miles away, Groves said this bomb could end the war. After the bomb was finished, President Truman decided to use the bombs on Japan to save lives that would be lost in an invasion. -
Battle of Midway
Midway was a vital U.S naval base in the Central Pacific. Japan wanted to push the U.S forces to the California coast so that Hawaii would be unprotected. Admiral Chester Nimitz knew the Japanese plans and concentrated the U.S forces there. During the battle, the United States forces sank four aircraft carriers and shot down 250 of Japan's best pilots; the U.S only lost one aircraft carrier. This was another turning point in the war in the pacific because the U.S went on the offensive. -
Iwo Jima & Okinawa
Iwo Jima and Okinawa were deadly battles during the U.S island-hopping campaign. During Iwo Jima, the Japanese had dug in along a 5-mile island that was only 650 miles away from Tokyo. 23,000 U.S Marines were killed, but they took the island as well as this famous photo. Okinawa was an even deadlier fight where the U.S ended up taking the island after losing 50,000 troops. After these islands were taken, U.S forces could more easily bomb the Japanese home islands. -
V.E. Day
The Germans surrendered in the French schoolhouse that had served as Eisenhower's headquarters. The next day Americans celebrated VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). Since FDR had died, Harry Truman would see the United States through the war. While the war in Europe was going on, U.S forces had been advancing in the Pacific, capturing Japanese islands. Now that the war in Europe had ended, the United States could focus all of their energy on defeating Japan. -
Hiroshima & Nagasaki
The U.S dropped the atomic bombs on two Japanese cities. On the morning of August 6th, pilots dropped the smaller bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on Hiroshima (left). The explosion killed 60,000 Japanese citizens. Over the next three days, the Japanese finally contemplated surrender. On August 9th, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria, and the U.S dropped "Fat Man," the larger A-bomb, on Nagasaki (right). This explosion killed 35,000 Japanese and ended the war in the Pacific.
