The War in the Pacific
Japanese
Expansion
Japan is an island with high
population density and
limited resources
The goal was to expand the
Japanese Empire and control
resources in the Pacific
A Vicious
Campaign
Japanese were
experimenting
with chemical and
biological
weapons
Planes dropped
plague-infected
fleas over Chinese
cities
Secret Plans
& Weapons
Typhoid & Cholera
cultures dropped in
wells
Plans existed for
sending hot air
balloons to infect the
United States
Reluctant America
There was much
resistance to America
entering the war in
Europe or Asia
The U.S was helping
Britain, China and Russia
through the Lend-Lease
Program (food, materials,
warships, planes and other
weapons)
The Attack on Pearl
Harbour
December 7, 1941 - a
brilliant and daring
Japanese surprise attack
December 8th, 1941 the
U.S declares war on
Japan
December 11th, 1941 the
U.S declares war on
Germany and Italy
Kamikaze - ‘The Divine Wind”
Pilots flew old planes or
special planes loaded
with explosives directly
into targets
Kamikazes sunk about
40 ships and damaged
50 more
America tried to force
Japan to surrender by
fire-bombing them
America’s Secret Weapon
The American’s
drove the
Japanese back one
island at a time
Casualties were
extremely high as
the Japanese
refused to
surrender
America had been
developing a
secret weapon to
end the war
The Most Terrible Weapon Ever Used
The U.S. believed Germany
was developing their own
atomic bomb
the Manhattan Project - the
bomb was originally
intended for Germany.
US President Truman
wanted the weapon used on
Japan to avoid an invasion
The United States builds 2
atomic bombs, called “Little
Boy” and “Fat Man
“Little Boy”: August 6th 1945
Nearly all buildings
within 1 km of the
blast had been
flattened. Devastated
an area of 13 Sq.km
More than 60% of the
buildings in the city
were destroyed.
140,000 of
Hiroshima's
population of 350,00
died
Many also suffered
long-term sickness
and disability.
The Aftermath
"We mean no harm to the common people of the
Axis nations. But we do mean to impose
punishment and retribution upon their guilty,
barbaric leaders"
In 1943 President Roosevelt made it clear what he
expected: “unconditional surrender”
Roosevelt wanted the defeated nations to allow both for
the occupation of their territory and the the creation of
new political institutions as the Allies saw fit
These terms were imposed on Germany but the Japanese
made it clear they would never accept these terms
Nagasaki - August 9th 1941
The War is Over
On August 14, 1945 Japan announced its surrender.
The USA allowed them to keep their emperor, Hirohito, but put many restrictions on Japan.
The USA took control of Japan, but they helped them rebuild their country.