Japan’s Pacific CampaignHSCE 7.2.3Ch. 32 sec. 2

*Japan’s military leaders wanted to expand their empire the same as Hitler = Control the ENTIRE Pacific Ocean Region!

*Japanese resources were slammed after taking over Manchuria--Japan turns to Euro colonies in S. E. Asia for resources

*Japan’s threat to America = conquering all of Southeast Asia-U.S. controlled Philippines & Guam

-Japan overran French Indochina (‘Nam, Laos, Cambodia) *U.S. sent aid to China & CUT OFF OIL to Japan….

*The U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii = “a dagger at Japan’s throat”--Japan wants control of all Pacific--planned surprise attacks against Euro colonies in Pacific and the

U.S. at Pearl

*Day of Infamy---December 7, 1941---early dawn--Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii----lasts about 2 hrs.

--sunk or damaged 19 ships (8 battleships)--over 2,300 Americans killed--1,100 wounded Americans--Next day, FDR requests Congress declare war on

Jap.**Japanese also attack Hong Kong (Br.), Guam & Wake Islands (U.S.), & invade Thailand

*Japanese also took the Bataan Peninsula = Philippines-took over 1 million square miles of land (150 million people)--they treated their conquered people w/ extreme cruelty

--Treated their POWs even WORSE!!!!--dishonorable to surrender

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1niwxQgoY Pearl Harbor

*The United States wanted revenge of Japan for Pearl Harbor--1942—Doolittle’s Raid--- 16 B-25 bombers bombed Tokyo & other Jap. Cities

--Bombs did little damage, BUT the psychological impact was huge….. = Japan was able to be attacked by Allies!

*Raid picks up U.S. morale & sinks the Japanese moral a bit--Japan’s empire too big = running out of resources

*Battle of the Coral Sea--- Japan wants New Guinea for an air strip = striking distance from Australia--Allied ship transport meets the Japanese = New kind of naval warfare--ships did not fire a single shot--planes from aircraft carriers fought the battle, instead--Allies lost more ships & troops, BUT stopped the Japanese from taking New Guinea & protected Aus.

http://military.discovery.com/videos/world-war-ii-in-color-battle-of-the-coral-sea.html

Coral Sea

*The Battle of Midway--- 1,500 miles west of Hawaii

--location of a KEY U.S. airfield---Japan targeted Midway for attack

--Japan hoped to draw entire U.S. Pacific fleet away from Pearl

--U.S. code breakers found out about the plan & were ready

--June 4, 1942----Japan began its assault on Midway

--U.S. waiting---attacked the Jap. fleet & caught them off guard

--destroyed all 4 Jap. Carriers, 332 planes, & 1 support ship = totally crippled the Japanese fleet in the Pacific

*Turns the tide of war in the Pacific to the Allies side!!! USA # 1!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v4I6RGRW50 Midway

*After Midway, the Allies are on the offensive--Japanese soldiers were dug in across hundreds of islands in the Pacific-----how to handle the problem?

*Douglas MacArthur---U.S. General--island-hopping---hop past strong Jap. defended islands &

focus on ones not well defended & closer to Japan

-Aug. 1942----Guadalcanal---Jap. controlled island---building an air base = Allies have to stop them--U.S. Marines invaded---had little trouble w/ the airfield, but very hard time controlling the island--6 months of fighting = Allies finally won, but heavy losses

--Japanese losses = 24,000 dead out of 36,000 = “Island of Death”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCmlOhsIwBk Thin Red Line