OVERVIEW
Prior to 1941, America had maintained a policy of isolation and did not militarily assist the Allied forces. However, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed an American naval base in Hawaii, in response to American support for Chinese resistance against the Japanese, and the severing of oil shipments from America to Japan. Ordered by the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese sunk or damaged 18 American ships as well as killing and wounding more than 3,000 Americans. This attack led America to declare war on the Axis Powers, and was referred to by President Roosevelt as a “date which will live infamy.”
The Japanese policy of imperialism had spread their influence throughout the Pacific, including China and the East Indies. Japan had achieved a series of victories within the region, that “seemed unbeatable,” however, at the Battle of Midway in 1942, the tides turned in the favor of the Allies. The Battle of Midway targeted the Midway island, near Hawaii, and despite the American forces being largely outnumbered, they surprise attacked the Japanese and destroyed much of their aircraft fleet; 332 planes were destroyed, as well as all four aircraft carriers. Following the Battle of Midway, General Douglas MacArthur followed a policy of “island-hopping,” in which Americans would seize islands close to Japan that were not well depended.
After series of battles over the period of three years, American Marines seized Iwo Jima, an island 660 miles from Tokyo. This was followed by an extremely bloody battle on the island of Okinawa, in which 110,000 Japanese troops died. This victory was extremely important, as Okinawa was vital in invading Japan. However, Harry Truman, the president at the time, was advised against sending troops into Japan as it would cost around half a million troops. Truman was informed about the newly created Atom Bombs, which he dropped upon two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in the August of 1945, in which more than 100,000 were killed in total. This led to the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945.
Prior to 1941, America had maintained a policy of isolation and did not militarily assist the Allied forces. However, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed an American naval base in Hawaii, in response to American support for Chinese resistance against the Japanese, and the severing of oil shipments from America to Japan. Ordered by the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese sunk or damaged 18 American ships as well as killing and wounding more than 3,000 Americans. This attack led America to declare war on the Axis Powers, and was referred to by President Roosevelt as a “date which will live infamy.”
The Japanese policy of imperialism had spread their influence throughout the Pacific, including China and the East Indies. Japan had achieved a series of victories within the region, that “seemed unbeatable,” however, at the Battle of Midway in 1942, the tides turned in the favor of the Allies. The Battle of Midway targeted the Midway island, near Hawaii, and despite the American forces being largely outnumbered, they surprise attacked the Japanese and destroyed much of their aircraft fleet; 332 planes were destroyed, as well as all four aircraft carriers. Following the Battle of Midway, General Douglas MacArthur followed a policy of “island-hopping,” in which Americans would seize islands close to Japan that were not well depended.
After series of battles over the period of three years, American Marines seized Iwo Jima, an island 660 miles from Tokyo. This was followed by an extremely bloody battle on the island of Okinawa, in which 110,000 Japanese troops died. This victory was extremely important, as Okinawa was vital in invading Japan. However, Harry Truman, the president at the time, was advised against sending troops into Japan as it would cost around half a million troops. Truman was informed about the newly created Atom Bombs, which he dropped upon two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in the August of 1945, in which more than 100,000 were killed in total. This led to the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945.
ARTICLES:
• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2129.html - A review/ summary on the Japanese involvement in the Pacific.
• http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155 - An overview of the Pacific War.
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/pacific-major-battles/ - An in depth look at the most relevant battles within the Pacific.
• http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/09/world-war-ii-the-pacific-islands/100155/ - A look at the Pacific War through photos.
• http://www.japanfocus.org/-Richard-Tanter/2066 - A response to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26949893 - This video discusses the residual tensions between China and Japan, the aftermaths of WWII, and current feelings of nationalism within Japan.
• http://time.com/5546/japanese-nhk-officials-world-war-ii/ - Another article discussing the current tensions between China and Japan, as more people are increasingly denying or condoning WWII war crimes.
• http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation/ - A deeper look into the relocation of Japanese citizens and aliens within America during the war.
• http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/10/pelosi-immigration-law-like-internment-of-japanese/ - An article focusing on the connections people are making between the relocation of Japanese citizens during WWII with the deportation of illegal immigrants today.
• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2129.html - A review/ summary on the Japanese involvement in the Pacific.
• http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005155 - An overview of the Pacific War.
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/pacific-major-battles/ - An in depth look at the most relevant battles within the Pacific.
• http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/09/world-war-ii-the-pacific-islands/100155/ - A look at the Pacific War through photos.
• http://www.japanfocus.org/-Richard-Tanter/2066 - A response to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26949893 - This video discusses the residual tensions between China and Japan, the aftermaths of WWII, and current feelings of nationalism within Japan.
• http://time.com/5546/japanese-nhk-officials-world-war-ii/ - Another article discussing the current tensions between China and Japan, as more people are increasingly denying or condoning WWII war crimes.
• http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation/ - A deeper look into the relocation of Japanese citizens and aliens within America during the war.
• http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/10/pelosi-immigration-law-like-internment-of-japanese/ - An article focusing on the connections people are making between the relocation of Japanese citizens during WWII with the deportation of illegal immigrants today.
AUDIO/ VIDEO:
The video above provides information on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and how it chronologically fits into the rest of the war.
The video above shows FDR's response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the declaration of war on Japan.
The documentary above provides further information on The Battle of Midway, including background information.
PRIMARY DOCUMENTS:
1) The Japanese Surrender to the Allied Forces
2) The Casualties of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
3) American Proclamation on "Alien Enemies"
1) The Japanese Surrender to the Allied Forces
2) The Casualties of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
3) American Proclamation on "Alien Enemies"
MAPS:
The map above shows the places the Japanese occupied and acquired during World War II.
The map above shows how the strategy of "Island Hopping" was used to gain territories.
The map above shows the Japanese influence within the Pacific.
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The map above focuses on which battles in the Pacific were longer, and often because of that, more important.
This map also shows the series of Allied attacks on the Japanese.
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