The Tale Of The The Tale Of The War In The PacificWar In The Pacific

Specifically intended for 10Specifically intended for 10thth Grade Global History Students Grade Global History Students

The Tide of Japanese VictoriesThe Tide of Japanese VictoriesAfter the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese seized After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese seized

Guam and Wake Island in the Western Pacific. In Guam and Wake Island in the Western Pacific. In January 1942, the Japanese marched into the Philippine January 1942, the Japanese marched into the Philippine

capital of Manila.capital of Manila.

The Japanese also:The Japanese also:- Seized Hong Kong and Malaya- Seized Hong Kong and Malaya

- Conquered Singapore and the Dutch East Indies- Conquered Singapore and the Dutch East Indies

(islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes)(islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes)

- Took Burma (between China and India)- Took Burma (between China and India)

Japan had conquered more than 1 million square miles of Japan had conquered more than 1 million square miles of land with about 150 million people.land with about 150 million people.

Map of the PacificMap of the Pacific

Battle of Midway – June 1942Battle of Midway – June 1942 Japan was targeting Midway Island, west of Hawaii. Japan was targeting Midway Island, west of Hawaii.

Importance of the Island – Importance of the Island –

To Japan it could be used as a base to attack Pearl Harbor To Japan it could be used as a base to attack Pearl Harbor again. The island was also home to a key again. The island was also home to a key American airfieldAmerican airfield..

Result – Result –

Even though the Japanese fleet was the largest naval force Even though the Japanese fleet was the largest naval force ever assembled, the Americans were victorious. This was a ever assembled, the Americans were victorious. This was a turning point in the war.turning point in the war.

- What is the main idea of this cartoon?- What is the main idea of this cartoon?

- Create a title for this cartoon.- Create a title for this cartoon.

War Rages On In The PacificWar Rages On In The Pacific In the Pacific, American forces, using a combination of air In the Pacific, American forces, using a combination of air

and sea power, were chipping away steadily at the and sea power, were chipping away steadily at the Japanese Empire.Japanese Empire.

American submarines launched constant attacks, American submarines launched constant attacks, ultimately destroying nearly 50 percent of Japan’s ultimately destroying nearly 50 percent of Japan’s merchant fleet. American bombers, meanwhile, merchant fleet. American bombers, meanwhile,

operating from captured Pacific islands, were reducing operating from captured Pacific islands, were reducing Japan’s fragile cities to cinders.Japan’s fragile cities to cinders.

The leader of the Allied forces in the Pacific was The leader of the Allied forces in the Pacific was General Douglas MacArthurGeneral Douglas MacArthur..

Island-HoppingIsland-Hopping Japanese troops had dug in on Japanese troops had dug in on

hundreds of islands across the hundreds of islands across the ocean. Leader of the Allied forces in ocean. Leader of the Allied forces in

the Pacific, General MacArthur, the Pacific, General MacArthur, decided to “island-hop” past decided to “island-hop” past

Japanese strongpoints. He would Japanese strongpoints. He would then seize islands that were not well then seize islands that were not well defended but were closer to Japan.defended but were closer to Japan.

Is Island-Hopping A Good Plan?Is Island-Hopping A Good Plan?General MacArthur said about it:

“Hit ‘em where they ain’t, let ‘em die on the vine.”

If you were an advisor to MacArthur and were being interviewed If you were an advisor to MacArthur and were being interviewed by a journalist, using your own words, how would you define this by a journalist, using your own words, how would you define this strategy?strategy?

In speaking with MacArthur, what are the positives of following In speaking with MacArthur, what are the positives of following this plan that you would mention to him?this plan that you would mention to him?

A good advisor needs to show both sides. What negatives may A good advisor needs to show both sides. What negatives may come about if this strategy is used?come about if this strategy is used?

Island Hopping in the Pacific!Island Hopping in the Pacific!

Island Hopping Strategy SuccessfulIsland Hopping Strategy Successful

Led by Douglas McArthur, the United States began an island-hopping campaign that would push the Japanese back to Japan.

Midway, 1942

Iwo Jima, 1944-45

Guadalcanal, 1942-43

Philippines, 1944

Okinawa, 1945

Battle of GuadalcanalBattle of Guadalcanal On August 7, 1942, about 190,000 U.S. Marines landed on Guadalcanal. The On August 7, 1942, about 190,000 U.S. Marines landed on Guadalcanal. The

Japanese were unprepared and radioed: Japanese were unprepared and radioed:

““Enemy forces overwhelming, We will defend our posts Enemy forces overwhelming, We will defend our posts to the death.”to the death.”Importance of the Island –Importance of the Island –

Japan was building a huge air base on the island of Japan was building a huge air base on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The Allies had to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The Allies had to strike before it became another Japanese strongpoint.strike before it became another Japanese strongpoint.

Result – Result – In February 1943, after 6 months of fighting,In February 1943, after 6 months of fighting, the Japanese the Japanese abandoned the island. abandoned the island.

Losses At GuadalcanalLosses At Guadalcanal

→ Total losses for the U.S. included two Total losses for the U.S. included two battleships, battleships, one heavy cruiser, eleven combat transports, one heavy cruiser, eleven combat transports, and six and six thousand infantrymen.thousand infantrymen.

→ The Japanese lost 23,000 out of 36,000 men.The Japanese lost 23,000 out of 36,000 men.

A Voice From The PastA Voice From The Past “ “Hell was furry red spiders as big as your fist, giant lizards as long as Hell was furry red spiders as big as your fist, giant lizards as long as your leg, leeches falling from trees to suck blood, armies of white ants your leg, leeches falling from trees to suck blood, armies of white ants with bites of fire, scurrying scorpions inflaming any flesh they touched, with bites of fire, scurrying scorpions inflaming any flesh they touched, enormous rats and bats everywhere, and rivers with waiting crocodiles. enormous rats and bats everywhere, and rivers with waiting crocodiles. Hell was the sour, foul smell of the squishy jungle, humidity that rotted Hell was the sour, foul smell of the squishy jungle, humidity that rotted

a body within hours…Hell was an enemy…so fanatic that it used its a body within hours…Hell was an enemy…so fanatic that it used its own dead as booby traps.”own dead as booby traps.”

Bataan Death MarchBataan Death MarchThe Bataan Death March took place in the Philippines in 1942. The 60-mile march occurred after the three-month Battle of Bataan.

The march forced 90,000 to 100,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war into prison camps. It was characterized by wide-ranging physical abuse, murder, savagery, and resulted in very high fatalities inflicted upon the prisoners and civilians along the route. Beheadings, slit throats, being casually shot, bayonet stabbings, rapes, guttings, numerous rifle butt beatings and a refusal to allow the prisoners food or water while keeping them continually marching for nearly a week in tropical heat. Falling down, unable to continue moving was tantamount to a death sentence, as was any degree of protest or expression of displeasure.

Leyte IslandLeyte Island

After Guadalcanal, the Japanese advances inAfter Guadalcanal, the Japanese advances inthe Pacific had been stopped. American the Pacific had been stopped. American

groundgroundtroops continued to push toward the troops continued to push toward the Philippines, landing at Leyte Island in Philippines, landing at Leyte Island in

October 1944. October 1944.

The Japanese used nearly their entire fleet The Japanese used nearly their entire fleet against MacArthur’s troops in the battles against MacArthur’s troops in the battles

of Leyte Gulf, making this the largest of Leyte Gulf, making this the largest naval engagement in history.naval engagement in history.

Despite the impressive showing by the Despite the impressive showing by the Japanese, Japanese, the Allied forces prevailedthe Allied forces prevailed..

MacARTHUR’S PROCLAMATION “I HAVE RETURNED”MacARTHUR’S PROCLAMATION “I HAVE RETURNED” Original copy of General Douglas MacArthur’s message to the Filipino Original copy of General Douglas MacArthur’s message to the Filipino

people which he read at Palo Beach, Leyte on October 20, 1944.people which he read at Palo Beach, Leyte on October 20, 1944.

Victory With A Steep PriceVictory With A Steep Price Such victories in the Pacific did not come easy. While the Such victories in the Pacific did not come easy. While the

Allies captured the key city of Manila in March, 1945, Allies captured the key city of Manila in March, 1945, fierce Japanese resistance prevented them from fully fierce Japanese resistance prevented them from fully conquering the islands until July, at the horrific cost of conquering the islands until July, at the horrific cost of

60,000 American lives.60,000 American lives.

Even as the Japanese suffered defeat after crushing Even as the Japanese suffered defeat after crushing defeat, the imperial forces seemed only to increase their defeat, the imperial forces seemed only to increase their

resistance. resistance.

KamikazeKamikaze

The kamikaze were Japanese suicide pilots. They would sink The kamikaze were Japanese suicide pilots. They would sink Allied ships by crashing into them in their bomb-filled Allied ships by crashing into them in their bomb-filled

planes.planes.

Pacific War Battles On!Pacific War Battles On!

Kamikaze, which in Japanese means “divine wind,” were suicide squadrons organized by the Japanese air force in the last months of World War II. Pilots flew their aircraft, loaded with explosives, directly into U.S. naval vessels.

Kamikaze pilots, sacrificing their lives in a last-ditch effort to stop the American advance, sank about 40 U.S. ships.

Kamikaze PilotsKamikaze Pilots

Iwo JimaIwo Jima

In March of 1945, In March of 1945, American marines gained American marines gained

control of the tiny, but control of the tiny, but strategically located, strategically located,

island of Iwo Jima. Iwo island of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima is just 660 miles Jima is just 660 miles

from Tokyo. This victory from Tokyo. This victory came after losing more came after losing more

than 20,000 more than 20,000 more soldiers than they had soldiers than they had ever lost in any single ever lost in any single

battle.battle.

Battle of OkinawaBattle of Okinawa The Allies then moved on to Okinawa, an island 350 miles from The Allies then moved on to Okinawa, an island 350 miles from

southern Japan. The Japanese put up a desperate fight. On June southern Japan. The Japanese put up a desperate fight. On June 22, the 22, the bloodiestbloodiest land battle of the war ended. The Japanese lost land battle of the war ended. The Japanese lost

110,000110,000 troops, and the Americans troops, and the Americans 12,500.12,500.

Harry TrumanHarry Truman

When Franklin Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, Harry Truman came into office. The European war was coming to an end, and he was left to concentrate on the war in the Pacific. The only obstacle that the United States needed

to overcome was _________________________. Although much of the Japanese naval fleet and air force

had been destroyed by Allied raids, their ancient _________________ tradition prevented a surrender.

Therefore, an Allied victory would create extremely high casualties; military advisors predicted that an invasion of

Japan would cost over ____________________ American lives. This fact put Truman in a very difficult

position.

Japan

Shinto

1 Million

Atomic BombAtomic BombOn August 6, 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped the first

atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a Japanese city and military center. The blast

destroyed 68 percent of the city and damaged another 24 percent. An

estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people were killed or reported missing, according to U.S. estimates, and

thousands more were made homeless. Sixteen hours after the attack, U.S.

President Harry S. Truman’s report of the event was broadcast to radio

listeners.

NagasakiNagasakiThree days later, on August 9th, a second bomb was dropped on the city of

Nagasaki. Over 20,000 people died instantly. In the successive weeks, thousands more Japanese died from the after effects of the

_______________ exposure of the blast.

The Atomic Age Begins!The Atomic Age Begins!

The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, during World War II. The blast destroyed 68 percent of the city and damaged another 24

percent, and an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people were killed or reported missing, according to United States estimates.

VJ-Day: The War is Over!VJ-Day: The War is Over!

Japanese officials formally surrendered to the Allies on September 2, 1945, aboard the United States battleship Missouri. Japan's surrender brought an end to World War II

(1939-1945).

End of the war!End of the war!

Next StopNext Stopthe main island of Japan...the main island of Japan...

……or would it?or would it?