Japan at War

Japanese Plans1. “Greater South-East Asia Co-Prosperity

Sphere”

a. Japan wanted to build an economic

empire in SE Asia and the Pacific

2. Japan was building an empire since 1931

(at war with China over Manchuria)

3. Japan’s goal led to conflicts

a. USA over the Philippines

b. Britain over Singapore and Malaya

c. The Netherlands over East India

Japan and USA1. USA is uncomfortable with Manchuria

a. Stops shipments of fuel, scrap iron and steel

to Japan

b. Hurts Japanese imperialism

2. Japan could:

a. Withdraw from Manchuria (be defeated)

b. Attack Indochina, Malaya and East Indies

3. December 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

a. Japan - 6 aircraft carriers

- 400 airplanes

- 35 battleships

- Japan lost 29 planes and 1 submarine

b. USA

- 18 ships sunk

- 2,403 dead and 1,000 wounded

- 8 battleships destroyed including the Arizona,

Nevada, West Virginia, Oklahoma, California

4. December 8, 1941, USA declares war on

Japan

5. Japan responds by bombing US air

bases in the Philippines

6. By 1942, Japan conquers the Pacific

a. Hong Kong (British)

b. Guam and Wake (USA)