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Axis Powers are formed
<a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jyXUHknNR0'
In Berlin on September 27, 1940 The Tripartite Pact was signed by Germany, Italy, and Japan. This pact signified the creation of the Axis powers. The Axis powers pledged to defend each other if there was ever an attack by a nation not already involved in the war. This pledge was directly aimed at the United States. They did not want the American superpower to get involved and become a threat. -
Embargo on Japan
In July of 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt set an embargo on oil, steel, and rubber. The United States cut Japan off from supplies used to make planes and weapons. Japan had few natural oil reserves and raw materials, so they were forced to expand their terriory into the Pacific . Along with many other islands, Japan targeted the American territory of the Philippines. This caused an uproar in the United States and created greater tension between the two countries. -
General Hideki Tojo comes to power
In 1941, General Hideki Tojo became Japan's prime minister. General Tojo was told by imperialist to be peaceful, but diplomacy did not last long.He urged military expansion in the Pacific and wanted to keep the United States neutral and out of the war. General Hideki Tojo foresaw the possibility of the U.S. joining the war and began to plan an attack to stop further involvement. General Tojo was nicknamed Razor for his sharp tatics and his tendency to make quick decisions. -
The Manhattan Project
The creation of Uranium fission and atomic energy were ground breaking technological advancement in 1939. The possibility of the an atomic bomb had only been theorized at this point, but Franklin D. Roosevelt urged Albert Einstein and Robert Oppernheimer (the project manager) to begin research as soon as possible. The bombs were created mostly in New Mexico but some aspects were also built in Tennessee. On July 16, 1945, the first successful test -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United State's largest naval base: Pearl Harbor , Hawaii. The attack took place Sunday morning when the military was unprepared. The attack came in two waves. In the first wave, Japan attacked US battleships, such as the USS Arizona, and many aircraft carriers. Luckily many U.S. ships were out of the harbor training for combat.The second wave destroyed what ever was left from the first wave. Japan's goal was to keep the U.S out of the war. -
United States declare war on Japan
On December 8, Franklin D. Roosevelt urged Congress to declare war on Japan. He addressed Congress and the American people with his famous speech regarding, "a day that will live in infamy." He suceeded in persuading Congress and war was declared shortly after. Declaring war greatly helped the U.S. economy out of the Great Depression. Millions of jobs were created as a result of the war effort. -
Doolittle Raid
In April of 1942, the Dootlittle Raid was the first sucessful attack on Japaneses soil. Colonel Doolittle got word that Japan had detected U.S. airforce planes, and made the executive decision to ambush the Japanese immediately. The American Airforce surprised the city of Tokyo by bombing them during the day instead of at night. After the successful attack, the Airforce was forced to crash land in China. The Doolittle Raid did not devistate the city, but symbolized U.S. power. -
Battle of Coral Sea
In May, Japan began to invade New Guinea. In response, the U.S sent over aircraft carriers and ships to defend the island. The battle of Coral Sea spanded from May 7th to the 8th; the battle was mostly fought by the airforce. The opposing ships never came in contact with one another. The battle did not have a clear victor, but the U.S. began to take the upper hand on the Japanese. As a result, the Japenese stopped invading New Guinene. -
Invasion of Okinawa
In April of 1945, the United States began to invade Okinawa by air and sea (350 miles from Japan). After conquering Okinawa, the U.S invaded Japan. The United States began bombing Japenese cities and towns. The Japanese were defenseless and unable to drive the U.S. military forces away. The United States clearly had the upper hand in the war at this point. The invasion lasted for months spanning until June of 1945. -
Atomic Bombs Dropped on Japan
On August 6, 1945 President Thurman made the exuctive decision to drop the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The mission was done in secret and given the code name of "Little Boy" .The President said that the main reason he dropped the bomb was to save American lives. August 9, 1945 the U.S. dropped the second bomb on the city of Nagasaki.They called this mission "Fat Man." The two atomic bombs killed around 195,000 Japanese people, leaving Japan in turmoil. -
Japanese Surrender
The Japanese government officially surrendered on September 2, 1945. Around 50 million lives were lost throughout the course of the war.
