Japan was in the axis powers
56 billion war costs
2,120,000 military deaths
wanted to control China
Attacked (bombed) pearl Harbor
Between Wars
Got a permanent spot in the league of nations
Became world power after WWI
hideki tojo- prime minister during WWII and army general during the war, ordered attack on pearl harbor, resigned when japan was losing, killed for war crimes
Hirohito- emperor of japan during WWII, approved attack on pearl harbor, was not accused of war crimes after the war, became a symbol for the future of japan
pearl harbor- japan led a surprise attack on the US at pearl harbor in Hawaii, 350 torpedo bombers, 2,000 were killed and 1,000 were injured, 4 US ships sunk 4 more were completely destroyed,
Midway- Japan led an attack on the midway islands, was a turning point in the war in the pacific, US lost one aircraft carrier and one destroyer, 145 planes and 307 casualties, japan lost four carriers and one cruiser, 292 planes, 2500 casualties
Okinawa- largest water assault, last and biggest pacific battle, japan set up a large defensive line of pillboxes and strong points across the island, 287,000 US and 130,000, 65 thousand US casualties, 77 thousand japanese casualties, japan lost 2800 aircrafts, US lost 34 SHips and 763 aircrafts
battle strategies- pearl harbor- wanted to attack so america would make a deal with japan to stay out the war- midway- wanted the midway because it was close to merica- okinawa- japan was completely defensive
WHy they lost- attacked pearl harbor(dont mess with America), lack of resources, surrendered
Impact of WWII on japan- restrictions of land, disarming of military to live peacefully, not enslave but still show stern war crime punishments made into a democracy.
Areas Japan took over
China,
Vietnam,
Combodia,
Laos,
Thailand,
British New Guinea,
phillippines,
guam,
dutch east indies,
portuguese
Timor,
malayasia,
andaman and nicobar islands,
straits settlements,
brunei,
north borneo,
nauru,
wake island,
gilbert and ellice islands,
christams island,
attu kiska islands
areas attacked but not conquered:
austrailia,
british columbia,
kohima and manipur,
colombo and trincomalee,
dornod,
united states
Never got to india but tried
Japan U.S attacks
Santa Barbara
Pearl Harbor
Midway Atoll
Fort Stevens (Oregon)
1920’s
joined league of nations
signed 4 Power Pact- respect each other’s territories
5 Power Pact- Would Limit Naval Size
and 9 Power Pact- open door policy
signed Kellogg-Briand Pact- Not using war to settle disputes
japan needed raw materials especially Iron, Coal, Aluminum, Oil
Manchuria has resources needed
base of operations to attack China
Japan invades
League of Nations condemned the action, but had no military force to enforce it
Japan dropped out of League of Nations shortly after invasion of Manchuria
Nanking Massacre
Mass killing of Chinese People (up to 300,000)
Mass Raping of Women and Children
mass looting and arson
many Japanese believed that their gov’t wouldn’t kill civilians for no reason
Still causes tension between the two countries
war crime trails were held for the actions of soldiers.
Quarantine Speech- 1937
President said that peaceful nations should quarantine aggressive nations
Panay Incident - December 1937
American Gunboat attacked on river in China by Japan
3 U.S Troops killed 45 Wounded
Japanese Leaders
Hideki Tojo
Emperor Hirohito
Admiral Yamamoto- mastermind of Pearl Harbor attacks, thought that attacking US was a bad idea
Basics of Pearl Harbor Attack- Lost many aircrafts, and ships
Date: December 7, 1941
U.S declared war on Japan the next day December 8, 1941
Casualties/Deaths- 2,402 deaths (1,282 wounded)
War Result Japan Victory, US declares war on Japan on Dec. 8 1941, Germany and Italy declare war on US, US declares war on Germany and Italy
Battle Results- 8 US navy ships damaged, 4 sunk, 188 US aircraft were destroyed
USS Arizona Memorial- the dead of Arizona are engraved in marble
Pearl Harbor Propoganda was used by the US to encourage americans to fight
U.S stopped trading with Japan
Japan and Soviets had a nuetrality pact
Japan realized they needed US trade to be successful
Wanted to surprise america and “awoke a sleeping giant”
Back door to war policy-
Roosevelt's quarantine speech is a factor- shows that he was picking sides
He liked Churchill
best way to go to war is to be attacked
Conspiracy believers say that We backed Japan into a corner, so they would attack us, thus leading us into war.
We cut off trade with Japan, which they desperately needed, and we wanted them to pull out of China completely, which they didn’t want to do, and in retaliation, they attacked.
FDR’s war message
Pearl Harbor was not the only area Japan Attacked on December 7th
“Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.”
“Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong: etc...”
Philippines was attacked- great spot for us because it was one of our only territories around Asia.
We lost the Philippines- MacArthur wanted to take a stand and go down with a fight, Roosevelt called MacArthur personally and told him to leave.
Doolittle’s Raid-April, 1942- Roosevelt decided that they were going to send aircraft carriers and bomb tokyo for a moral boost for the rest of America- Bombers were stripped to almost nothing, and was seen as a suicide mission, but most made it home
Battle of Coral Sea- First Turning point in the Pacific- was kind of a stalemate between Japan and America- America took that as a victory because Japan couldn’t advance.
Battle of Midway- Major Turning point- Major victory for America- we won because by this time, we had broken their code, and knew they were coming.
Guadalcanal- American victory
Kamikazes- Suicidal attacks by Japan, they would fly into ships.
Battle of Leyte Gulf- Philippines- first time back after two years- MacArthur made his famous return
Iwo Jima- March 1945- Japan was completely dug into the Island- American victory- Lost a lot of people in the process. 6,821 US deaths.
Okinawa April-June 1 battle, US won
Operation Downfall- estimated 1 mil casualties and 267,000 death for US alone. Never happened. Instead we dropped the Atomic bombs.
Manhattan Project 1939-1945
-Development of the atomic Bomb
Trinity test was the first atomic bomb ever dropped- testing
Hiroshima- Little Boy was dropped by the Enola Gay plane- worked well- target hit- did a lot of damage
Nagasaki- Fat Man (Plutonium) was dropped by the plane Bockscar- mission went poorly- Nagasaki was 3rd or 4th on the list- they needed to see the target- they were afraid they would run out of gas and they dropped it in the wrong place.
VJ Day- when Japan surrendered on the USS Missouri August 14/15 in UK Sept 2nd for US
Potsdam Conference- July 45- terms for Japan’s surrender- no alternatives beside utter destruction.
Dismantle current Government beside Emperor
Allies occupy Japan for 7 years- leave when all other points are met
Japan would lose all territories gained
Military forces were disarmed and sent home
War crime trials
Democracy promoted- freedom of speech religion, etc.
Industry kept- world trade continued later
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