Impact of World War II on America: The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb

1. SSUSH19 The student will identify the origins, major developments, and the domestic impact of World War II, especially the growth of the federal government.

2. As we go through todays lesson and reading – Ponder this Should we have dropped the atomic bomb?

3. The Pacific Theatre

4. America Steps into WWII • Japanese Aggression: Japan under the leadership of military leader, Hideki Tojo, invades China • US protests aggression by cutting off trade with Japan • This embargo included OIL • Tojo ordered an attack on the U.S. • Pearl Harbor • Dec. 7th, 1941 Japanese planes fly over Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base in Hawaii; resulted in a huge devastation to the base • Effect: American isolationists now support going to war; America declares war the next day

5. Pearl Harbor • In an attempt to cripple the U.S. Navy’s Pacific fleet, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, sinking or damaging 21 ships and killing over 2,400 Americans • The U.S. declared war on Japan the following day

6. Island Hopping: US troops practiced the policy of attacking and gaining control of islands in the pacific ocean in order to get close to Japan/Japanese controlled land.

7. Battle of Midway (June 1942) • The Japanese planned on invading Midway Island in order to lure U.S. aircraft carriers into a trap, and destroy the remaining U.S. Pacific fleet • Unknown to the Japanese, the U.S. had broken their secret code, and knew of the impending attack • The U.S. Navy sank four Japanese carriers, and shot down 320 planes badly crippling the Japanese navy • This battle is considered the turning point in the war against Japan. After Midway, the U.S. goes on the offensive against Japan • http://www.history.com/videos/battle-at-midway#battle-at-midway ---2.5min

8. Battle of Midway How did the Battle of Midway change the war in the Pacific?

9. Japanese living in America: Internment • In December 1941, Roosevelt required enemy aliens (Germans, Italians, and Japanese) to register with the police • The order was lifted for all, except the Japanese • Pearl Harbor made many Americans feel that the Japanese, including Japanese Americans were a threat • Internment Camps: camps meant to relocate thousands of Japanese citizens suspect of supporting the Axis powers

10. Internment(Click on link for video) • Under the order, 90% of the Japanese Americans living in California were forced to sell all their possessions and relocate to camps in several western states • The internments were challenged in 1944 under Korematsu v. U.S. but was upheld by the Supreme Court

12. The Atomic Bomb • US secret project to build a nuclear weapon: the Manhattan Project • Tested 1st bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico 1945 • US wanted an “unconditional surrender” from Japan, but they refused

13. Hiroshima and Nagasaki • Enola Gay bombed Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 • August 9, 1945 2nd bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan • Japanese surrendered on August 14, 1945 V-J Day (Victory over Japan)