The War in the PacificThe War in the Pacific

Coral Sea ClashCoral Sea Clash

Yamamoto wants to rule the Pacific.Yamamoto wants to rule the Pacific.

First Carrier vs. Carrier battle.First Carrier vs. Carrier battle.

U.S. breaks the code.U.S. breaks the code.

First battle at sea.First battle at sea.

Yamamoto wants to rule the Pacific.Yamamoto wants to rule the Pacific.

First Carrier vs. Carrier battle.First Carrier vs. Carrier battle.

U.S. breaks the code.U.S. breaks the code.

First battle at sea.First battle at sea.

Battle of Coral SeaBattle of Coral Sea

Off the coast of AustraliaOff the coast of Australia Completely an aerial battle Completely an aerial battle

between planes launched between planes launched from carriers (first time in from carriers (first time in history)history)

No clear winner in the battle No clear winner in the battle – but the U.S. did block the – but the U.S. did block the invasion of Australia – our invasion of Australia – our allyally

Off the coast of AustraliaOff the coast of Australia Completely an aerial battle Completely an aerial battle

between planes launched between planes launched from carriers (first time in from carriers (first time in history)history)

No clear winner in the battle No clear winner in the battle – but the U.S. did block the – but the U.S. did block the invasion of Australia – our invasion of Australia – our allyally

Plane-to-plane combat at the Battle of Coral Sea.

This was the first ‘completely aerial’

battle ever

The Battle of MidwayThe Battle of MidwayThe most decisive battle ofThe most decisive battle of

World War IIWorld War II

June 4-7,1942June 4-7,1942

The most decisive battle ofThe most decisive battle ofWorld War IIWorld War II

June 4-7,1942June 4-7,1942

Death TollsDeath Tolls

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Casualties

United States - 307 Japan - 3,500

Does this chart indicate that the US won?

CarriersCarriers

United StatesUnited States11

JapanJapan44

Planes

United States150

Japan253

Planes

United States150

Japan253

Why are these stats important?Why are these stats important?

Midway’s Effects on the Pacific WarMidway’s Effects on the Pacific WarJapan goes from dominant power in the Japan goes from dominant power in the

Pacific to nothing without its Carriers.Pacific to nothing without its Carriers.

United States gains the upper hand United States gains the upper hand because our carriers as we can launch because our carriers as we can launch attacks from anywhere.attacks from anywhere.

Japan loses key pilots and many Zeros.Japan loses key pilots and many Zeros.(Zeros are very fast planes).(Zeros are very fast planes).

Japan goes from dominant power in the Japan goes from dominant power in the Pacific to nothing without its Carriers.Pacific to nothing without its Carriers.

United States gains the upper hand United States gains the upper hand because our carriers as we can launch because our carriers as we can launch attacks from anywhere.attacks from anywhere.

Japan loses key pilots and many Zeros.Japan loses key pilots and many Zeros.(Zeros are very fast planes).(Zeros are very fast planes).

Island HoppingIsland Hopping

A strategy that suffocates an enemies A strategy that suffocates an enemies holdings by closing off supply lines holdings by closing off supply lines through the use of secret attacks on through the use of secret attacks on multiple targets from multiple directions multiple targets from multiple directions at once.at once.

Allowed the US to “leapfrog” into Japan Allowed the US to “leapfrog” into Japan without facing an all out direct attack. without facing an all out direct attack.

Admiral Nimitz Admiral Nimitz - leads sea attacks- leads sea attacksGeneral McArthur General McArthur - leads land attacks- leads land attacks

A strategy that suffocates an enemies A strategy that suffocates an enemies holdings by closing off supply lines holdings by closing off supply lines through the use of secret attacks on through the use of secret attacks on multiple targets from multiple directions multiple targets from multiple directions at once.at once.

Allowed the US to “leapfrog” into Japan Allowed the US to “leapfrog” into Japan without facing an all out direct attack. without facing an all out direct attack.

Admiral Nimitz Admiral Nimitz - leads sea attacks- leads sea attacksGeneral McArthur General McArthur - leads land attacks- leads land attacks

Battle of GuadalcanalBattle of Guadalcanal

August 1942 – Americans August 1942 – Americans win first major LAND victory win first major LAND victory on the island of Guadalcanalon the island of Guadalcanal

U.S. used Navajo Indians as U.S. used Navajo Indians as “Code-talkers”“Code-talkers”

Helped the U.S. Helped the U.S. communicate safely without communicate safely without the Japanese translating our the Japanese translating our messagesmessages

August 1942 – Americans August 1942 – Americans win first major LAND victory win first major LAND victory on the island of Guadalcanalon the island of Guadalcanal

U.S. used Navajo Indians as U.S. used Navajo Indians as “Code-talkers”“Code-talkers”

Helped the U.S. Helped the U.S. communicate safely without communicate safely without the Japanese translating our the Japanese translating our messagesmessages

A Navajo “Code-Talker” in action

The Navajo LanguageThe Navajo Language

Only about 25 non-Navajo people in the Only about 25 non-Navajo people in the entire world could speak the languageentire world could speak the language

Made up words for terms that didn’t Made up words for terms that didn’t exist in their language (names of birds exist in their language (names of birds meant “airplanes” and the word “egg” meant “airplanes” and the word “egg” actually meant “bomb”)actually meant “bomb”)

Only about 25 non-Navajo people in the Only about 25 non-Navajo people in the entire world could speak the languageentire world could speak the language

Made up words for terms that didn’t Made up words for terms that didn’t exist in their language (names of birds exist in their language (names of birds meant “airplanes” and the word “egg” meant “airplanes” and the word “egg” actually meant “bomb”)actually meant “bomb”)

Battle of Iwo JimaBattle of Iwo Jima

Iwo Jima (Feb-Mar 1945)Iwo Jima (Feb-Mar 1945) 23,000 U.S. troops 23,000 U.S. troops

killed or wounded in killed or wounded in order to take Iwo Jimaorder to take Iwo Jima

Japanese lost 20,703 Japanese lost 20,703 men and 216 were men and 216 were taken prisoner.taken prisoner.

Victory marked by the Victory marked by the raising of the U.S. flag raising of the U.S. flag atop Mt. Suribachiatop Mt. Suribachi

23,000 U.S. troops 23,000 U.S. troops killed or wounded in killed or wounded in order to take Iwo Jimaorder to take Iwo Jima

Japanese lost 20,703 Japanese lost 20,703 men and 216 were men and 216 were taken prisoner.taken prisoner.

Victory marked by the Victory marked by the raising of the U.S. flag raising of the U.S. flag atop Mt. Suribachiatop Mt. Suribachi

US 110,000 v. Japan 22,000US 110,000 v. Japan 22,000

The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan ProjectIn 1939, Albert Einstein, a Jewish refugee, informs FDR of a revolutionary new bomb – one that the Germans may have access to.

The Manhattan Project is launched to develop the atomic bomb, in a race with the Germans.

In 1945, President Truman will have the opportunity to put that technology to use to end the war.

The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan Project

U.S. feared that an invasion of Japan U.S. feared that an invasion of Japan would result in 200,000 American would result in 200,000 American casualties – and perhaps 1-2 million casualties – and perhaps 1-2 million Japanese casualtiesJapanese casualties

U.S. considers using an “Atomic Bomb” U.S. considers using an “Atomic Bomb” to end the war quicklyto end the war quickly

Bomb had been developed as part of Bomb had been developed as part of the “Manhattan Project” since 1942the “Manhattan Project” since 1942

U.S. feared that an invasion of Japan U.S. feared that an invasion of Japan would result in 200,000 American would result in 200,000 American casualties – and perhaps 1-2 million casualties – and perhaps 1-2 million Japanese casualtiesJapanese casualties

U.S. considers using an “Atomic Bomb” U.S. considers using an “Atomic Bomb” to end the war quicklyto end the war quickly

Bomb had been developed as part of Bomb had been developed as part of the “Manhattan Project” since 1942the “Manhattan Project” since 1942

U.S. uses the atomic bombsU.S. uses the atomic bombs

President Truman warned President Truman warned Japan to either surrender or Japan to either surrender or else face “complete else face “complete destruction”destruction”

Japan refusedJapan refused U.S. drops bombs on U.S. drops bombs on

Hiroshima (70,000 killed) -Hiroshima (70,000 killed) -(Little Boy) and Nagasaki (Little Boy) and Nagasaki (40,000 killed) - Fat man(40,000 killed) - Fat man

Japan surrenders five days Japan surrenders five days laterlater

President Truman warned President Truman warned Japan to either surrender or Japan to either surrender or else face “complete else face “complete destruction”destruction”

Japan refusedJapan refused U.S. drops bombs on U.S. drops bombs on

Hiroshima (70,000 killed) -Hiroshima (70,000 killed) -(Little Boy) and Nagasaki (Little Boy) and Nagasaki (40,000 killed) - Fat man(40,000 killed) - Fat man

Japan surrenders five days Japan surrenders five days laterlater

V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day)V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day)

August 15, 1945 (VE-Day was May 7, 1945)August 15, 1945 (VE-Day was May 7, 1945)

Potsdam Declaration by ChurchillPotsdam Declaration by Churchill "We call upon the government of Japan to "We call upon the government of Japan to

proclaim now the unconditional surrender of proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."Japan is prompt and utter destruction."

August 15, 1945 (VE-Day was May 7, 1945)August 15, 1945 (VE-Day was May 7, 1945)

Potsdam Declaration by ChurchillPotsdam Declaration by Churchill "We call upon the government of Japan to "We call upon the government of Japan to

proclaim now the unconditional surrender of proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."Japan is prompt and utter destruction."