Chapter 16 2 Japan Strikes in the Pacific

Chapter 16 -2 Japan Strikes in the Pacific Chapter 16. 2 Like Hitler, Japan’s military leaders also had dreams of an empire. Japan was overcrowded and faced shortages of raw materials. To solve these problems – and to encourage nationalism – the Japanese began a program of empire building that would lead to war. Japan Strikes in the Pacific Kerry Casey, Crystal Campero, and Julie Boyle Mr. Schumacher Period 1

Vocabulary • Isoroku Yamamoto – Japans greatest naval strategist, an admiral. • Pearl Harbor – December 7, 1941: American soldiers awoke to a Japanese attack. • Battle of Midway – A 1942 sea and air battle of World War II in which American forces defeated Japanese forces in the central Pacific. • Douglas Mac. Arthur – general and commander of the Allied Land Forces in the Pacific. • Battle of Guadalcanal – A 1942 -1943 battle of World War II in which the Allied troops drove Japanese forces from the Pacific Island of Guadalcanal.

Japan Seeks a Pacific Empire • Began in 1931: – Japan took over Manchuria. – Six years later, Japan invades China. A Chinese resistance causes war to drag on. • Japan’s economy suffers. Japanese Soldiers

The Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor • Americans crack the Japanese code and become aware of their plans for Southeast Asia. – The plan included the Japanese conquering European colonies • Including American controlled Guam and the Philippines. – U. S. sends aid to strengthen Chinese Resistance – Roosevelt cuts off oil shipments to Japan. – Japan plans surprise attack on the U. S. Pearl Harbor Right Before Attack

Pearl Harbor! • U. S. was aware that an attack might occur due to their breaking of the Japanese code. • December 7, 1941 – Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. • In the time span of two hours, 18 ships were either sunk or damaged and 2, 400 Americans were killed.

The Tide of Japanese Victories • Japanese planned a series of attacks in the Pacific – Wanted to seize Guam and the Wake Islands. • Japanese attack the Philippines. – Overwhelm the defenders on the Bataan Peninsula. • Japan attacks the British colonies, seizing Hong Kong as well. • February 1942 – The Japanese reach Singapore and Singapore surrenders. • March 1942 – Japan concurs Dutch East Indies. • Japan also takes Burma.

The Allies Strike Back • 1942 – U. S. sends 16 B 25 Bombers to bomb Tokyo. • May 1942 – American fleet intercepts Japanese strike force. • A raid was thrown by the U. S. on the Japanese. • Boosted American morale. • Slowly the Americans turned the tide of the war.

Inspiring Battles End Japanese Conquering Period • The Battle of Coral Sea – The U. S. and Japanese forces fight using a new kind of naval warfare. The opposing shops did not fire a single shot. – In the end, the Allies lost more ships than the Japanese but, the Allies had stopped Japan’s southward expansion for the first time. • The Battle of Midway – American pilots destroyed 332 Japanese planes, all four aircraft carriers, and one support ship. – The Allies used the momentum from the Midway victory to take the offensive position. – General Douglas Mac. Arthur steps up with the “island hop” plan, targeting Japanese strong points. – The Japanese were building a huge air base on the Island of Guadalcanal, but the US teamed with Australia to drive the Japanese out in the Battle of Guadalcanal.