The War in Asia

1. World War II and the Cold War The War in Asia

2. The War in Asia • Japan’s late 19th century industrialization had been successful but leaders needed raw materials and markets for their industries. • They also wanted to replace European Imperialism with Asian Imperialism.

3. The War in Asia • Japan’s military began to influence Japanese policy during the 1930s. • They successfully invaded Manchuria, a northern province of China, in 1931. • Japan next went on to invade the rest of China in 1937. • Its army committed atrocities against civilians in Shanghai and other Chinese cities.

5. Japan in World War II • Japanese leaders saw the war in Europe as an opportunity to gain control of mainland Asia. • Japan occupied French Indochina. • Only the US was in a position to prevent Japan’s expansion.

6. Japan in World War II • When the US threatened to blockade to blockade Japanese oil supplies, Japanese leaders decided upon a surprise attack. • In 1941, Hideki Tojo, a general from the Manchurian campaign, was appointed Prime Minister. • He convinced Emperor Hirohito to attack the US.

8. Japan in World War II • Japan hoped for a short war. • They planned to negotiate a treaty with the US that would give them control of East Asia.

9. Japan in World War II • Pearl Harbor (1941) • To carry out their strategy, Japan launched a massive surprise air attack from aircraft carriers on the US fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. • More than 2,400 Americans were killed in this attack.

11. Japan in World War II • The War in Asia and the Pacific (1941-1943) • At first, the Japanese achieved sweeping victories on the Asian mainland and in the Pacific. • They invaded and occupied the Philippines, Hong Kong, Borneo, the Solomon Islands, Java, and Singapore.

12. Japan in World War II • The Tide Turns Against Japan (1943-1945) • The tide began to turn in 1943 when the US regained naval superiority in the Pacific at the Battle of Midway (turning point). • American forces began “island-hopping”— moving from island to island- liberating Pacific islands from Japanese control one at a time. • Japanese armies were slowly forced to retreat back to their home islands. • After Germany was defeated in 1945, the US turned its full strength on Japan.

14. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War (1945) • A German Jewish physicist, Albert Einstein, played a key role in developing the atom bomb. • After Hitler came to power, Einstein fled Germany to come to the US. • During the war, Einstein feared that Nazi Germany was developing an atomic weapon.

16. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War • Einstein wrote a letter to President Roosevelt asking him to research the bomb. • Roosevelt authorized the Manhattan Project, where leading scientists gathered in New Mexico to develop an atomic bomb.

18. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War • In August 1945, President Roosevelt died suddenly and President Truman authorized the use of the new atomic bomb against Japan. • Truman hoped to prevent high casualty rates expected in an invasion. • On August 6, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and on Nagasaki on August 9. • Japan surrendered fearing another attack. WWII ended.

20. The US Occupation of Japan (1945-1952) • American General Douglas MacArthur was assigned the task of rebuilding post-war Japan. • Japan lost its overseas empire and was stripped of its army and navy. • It’s leaders were put on trial and punished: Tojo was executed. • Japan’s people were given a democratic constitution. • Emperor Hirohito was allowed to remain on the throne, but his powers were greatly reduced.

21. Notebook Assignment • Complete a graphic organizer describing the 3 main causes of World War II in Europe and Asia.