Japan’s Pacific Campaign

1. Japan’s Pacific Campaign Chapter 16 Section 2

2. Main Idea • Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and brought the United States into World War II. • World War II established the United States as a leading player in international affairs.

3. Introduction • Japan’s military leaders had a dream of an empire, just like Hitler. • Japan began to enter China in the late 1930s. • The Chinese resisted and Japan’s economy weakened. • Japan looks to European colonies in Southeast Asia to increase their resources.

4. Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor • By October 1940, Americans were aware of Japan’s plan for Southeast Asia. • U.S. is afraid that Japan will try to take the Philippines and Guam. • Both controlled by the U.S. • U.S. sends aid to strengthen Chinese resistance. • July 1941 – Japan takes French Indochina. • Roosevelt stops oil shipments to Japan.

5. Day of Infamy • Japan continues their conquests. • Admiral Yamamoto called for an attack on the U.S. fleet in Hawaii. • December 7, 1941 – Pearl Harbor was attacked. • U.S. military leaders knew that an attack might come, but they didn’t know when. • Within two hours – 19 ships were damaged, 8 of those were battleships. • 2,300+ Americans were killed; 1,100 wounded. • Congress accepts FDR’s request to declare war on Japan and its allies.

6. The following images were found in an old brownie camera. • A sailor took them the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. • The first Brownie was made in 1900…for the bargain price of $1.00! (Roughly $10-$15 today). • The quality of the pictures is quite amazing for such a cheap camera.

22. Japan’s Other Attacks • At the same time as Pearl Harbor, Japan attacks Hong Kong (British colony), Guam and Wake Island. • Also attack Thailand.

23. Japanese Victories • After quickly defeating Guam and Wake Island, Japan turned to the Philippines. • After taking control of the Philippines, Japan moves on to Malaya.

24. Taking the Dutch East Indies • Japan also takes the resource-rich Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).

25. Burma and India • Japan now takes Burma. • Also, plan to take over India, the largest of the Great Britain colonies.

26. Japanese Force • By the time Japan conquered Burma, it had seized one million square miles. • (about ¼ the size of the U.S.) • Japanese conquered 150 million people. • They ruled by force and were extremely cruel.

27. POWs • Japanese were most cruel to the Allied prisoners of war. • They forced 70,000 prisoners to march more than 50 miles up the Bataan Peninsula. • Only 54,000 survived.

28. One POW reported: • “I was questioned by a Japanese officer, who found out that I had been in a Philippine Scout Battalion. The (Japanese) hated the Scouts…Anyway, they took me outside and I was forced to watch as they buried six of my Scouts alive. They made the men dig their own graves, and then had them kneel down in a pit. The guards hit them over the head with shovels to stun them and piled earth on top.”

29. The Allies Strike Back • Japanese seem unbeatable. • The Allies – particularly the U.S. and Australia – want to fight back.

30. The Allies Turn the Tide • Lieutenant Doolittle bombed Tokyo in April 1942. • This raised American morale. • Japanese no longer felt invincible.

31. Attempted Attack • The next month, the Allies intercept a Japanese force ready to attack an Allied air base in New Guinea.

32. Battle of the Coral Sea • This naval battle was unusual because the ships did not fire a single shot. • Instead, ships were attacked by airplanes. • Allies suffered more than the Japanese. • However, they kept the Japanese from moving farther south.

33. The Battle of Midway • Japan moves onto Midway Island. • American airfield • Once again, the Allies break the codes and are aware that the Japanese are coming. • Allies waited until Japan launched the attack and then attacked the fleet. • 332 Japanese planes were destroyed.

34. An Allied Offensive • Due to their victory, the Allies were now on the offensive. • Japan had taken over hundreds of islands across the ocean. • General Douglas MacArthur developed a plan to take care of this problem. • MacArthur felt that island hopping to seize islands that were not well defended would work best.

35. MacArthur • U.S. learned that Japan was building a huge air base on Guadalcanal. • Had to strike fast before it was completed. • There was no problem in seizing the airfield. • However, it was difficult to take over control of the land. • U.S. had help from Australia.

36. Battle of Guadalcanal • Both sides continue to bring in more troops. • After fighting more than 6 months, the Japanese finally withdraw their troops. • They lost 2/3rd of their soldiers. • Called the Guadalcanal “The Island of Death”.

37. Future Plans • Japan continues to work toward establishing a new order in Southeast Asia. • Germany is focusing on how to deal with those he felt as “unfit” for the Third Reich.