Japan & the United States

1. Japan & the United States • How did we enter World War II?

2. Hedki Tojo

3. Hideki Tojo - How did he take power? 1920’s - Tojo works his way up the military ladder in Japan. 1930’s - Led troops in battle in China 1940 - Appointed War Minister 1941 - Emperor Hirohito elevates Tojo to the post of Prime Minister Click here to see a history of Japan Back

4. Hideki Tojo - Beliefs Tojo believed in the Racial Superiority of the Japanese people, especially over the Chinese. He was also ultra-nationalistic as well as very militaristic. He wanted to expand the Japanese empire throughout the Pacific Rim. Picture taken from http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww2/who/tojo.html Back

5. Hideki Tojo - Effect on world politics -When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Tojo became public enemy number one in the United States. -Throughout his tenure as Prime Minister he increased alliances with the Axis powers in Europe and extended military control over Japanese Society and the Pacific Rim. Tojo was executed for war crimes in 1948. Back

6. Japanese Flag Flag of Japanese Navy and Army Back

7. Hideki Tojo - Lasting Impact Hideki Tojo is, today, known as a man who led the Japanese into WWII against the United States. He is credited for increasing Japanese military, industrial, and imperialistic capacity, but also saw the end of Japanese society as it was known before 1945. Back

8. Hideki Tojo and Militarism Tojo and the Japanese military commanders believed Japan to be invincible. For hundreds of years the Japanese mainland was not successfully invaded. Japan extended its empire throughout the Pacific Rim and had visions of going quite a bit farther. Back

9. Japanese Expansion • Japan is expanding in the Pacific in search of raw materials. • Problems: • U.S. insisted of Japan’s withdrawal from China • Japan’s alliance with Germany and Italy (Tripartite Pact) • Negotiations over commercial treaty • U.S. had broken Japanese diplomatic codes • Japan wanted Indochina

11. Oil Embargo • U.S. freezes Japanese assets and starts embargo • U.S. cuts off sale of airplane fuel to Japan and cuts back on other natural resources. • Great Britain and the Dutch East Indies also participate in the embargo.

12. Oil Embargo • Japan cut off from its major source of oil • 66.4 percent of imports came from Anglo-Americans • Over 80 percent of its oil came from U.S.

13. Oil Embargo • Japanese Navy’s oil reserves (2 years) • Planned for war after August 1, 1941 • The longer Japan waited the worse its economic and military situation would become.

14. Decision for War • “Hull Note” delivered on Nov. 26, 1941 • Basically restated U.S. demands • Prime Minister Tōjō sees note as ultimatum and proof that further diplomacy was futile. • Japanese public opinion was firmly behind the decision for war.

15. Decision for War • Late Nov., 1941 – U.S. learns Japanese Armada leaves Japan / lost track of and thought they were headed to attack the Philippines • Dec. 6, Japan breaks off negotiations, refusing to leave China

16. December 7, 1941 • Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in Hawaii • U.S. fleet caught unprepared • 2400 sailors died, 1200 wounded,18 ships sunk, and 160 aircraft damaged and 200 destroyed. • Only the aircraft carriers, by chance on maneuvers, escaped the worst naval defeat in American history.

17. December 7, 1941 • Later the same day, Japan attacks the Philippines, Guam, and Midway and attacks British forces in Hong Kong and the Malay Peninsula (Singapore)

19. Global War • FDR – “a date that will live in infamy.” • Dec. 8, 1941 - U.S. declares war on Japan • Germany and Italy declare war on U.S. • With the Japanese attack on the U.S., World War II became a global war. • The U.S. would enter the war against the Axis powers and concentrate on Europe.