Chapter 16.2Japan Strikes in the Pacific

Chapter 16-2Japan Strikes in the

Pacific

Kerry Casey, Crystal Campero, and Julie BoyleMr. Schumacher

Period 1

Like Hitler, Japan’s military leaders also had dreams of an empire. Japan was overcrowded and faced shortages of raw materials. To solve these

problems – and to encourage nationalism – the Japanese began a program of empire building that would lead to war.

Vocabulary

• Isoroku Yamamoto – Japans greatest naval strategist, an admiral.

• Pearl Harbor – December 7, 1941: American soldiers awoke to a Japanese attack.

• Battle of Midway – A 1942 sea and air battle of World War II in which American forces defeated Japanese forces in the central Pacific.

• Douglas MacArthur – general and commander of the Allied Land Forces in the Pacific.

• Battle of Guadalcanal – A1942-1943 battle of World War II in which the Allied troops drove Japanese forces from the Pacific Island of Guadalcanal.

Japan Seeks a Pacific Empire

• Began in 1931:– Japan took over Manchuria.– Six years later, Japan invades China. A Chinese

resistance causes war to drag on.• Japan’s economy suffers.

Japanese Soldiers

The Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor

• Americans crack the Japanese code and become aware of their plans for Southeast Asia.– The plan included the Japanese conquering

European colonies• Including American controlled Guam and the

Philippines.– U.S. sends aid to strengthen Chinese

Resistance– Roosevelt cuts off oil shipments to Japan.– Japan plans surprise attack on the U.S.

Pearl Harbor Right Before Attack

Pearl Harbor!

• U.S. was aware that an attack might occur due to their breaking of the Japanese code.

• December 7, 1941 – Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

• In the time span of two hours, 18 ships were either sunk or damaged and 2,400 Americans were killed.

The Tide of Japanese Victories

• Japanese planned a series of attacks in the Pacific– Wanted to seize Guam and the Wake Islands.

• Japanese attack the Philippines.– Overwhelm the defenders on the Bataan Peninsula.

• Japan attacks the British colonies, seizing Hong Kong as well.

• February 1942 – The Japanese reach Singapore and Singapore surrenders.

• March 1942 – Japan concurs Dutch East Indies.• Japan also takes Burma.

The Allies Strike Back

• 1942 – U.S. sends 16 B25 Bombers to bomb Tokyo.

• May 1942 – American fleet intercepts Japanese strike force.

• A raid was thrown by the U.S. on the Japanese.

• Boosted American morale.• Slowly the Americans turned the tide of

the war.

Inspiring Battles End Japanese Conquering Period

• The Battle of Coral Sea– The U.S. and Japanese forces fight using a new kind of naval

warfare. The opposing shops did not fire a single shot.– In the end, the Allies lost more ships than the Japanese but,

the Allies had stopped Japan’s southward expansion for the first time.

• The Battle of Midway– American pilots destroyed 332 Japanese planes, all four

aircraft carriers, and one support ship.– The Allies used the momentum from the Midway victory to

take the offensive position.– General Douglas MacArthur steps up with the “island hop”

plan, targeting Japanese strong points. – The Japanese were building a huge air base on the Island of

Guadalcanal, but the US teamed with Australia to drive the Japanese out in the Battle of Guadalcanal.