Download Class Notes: War in the Pacific

Class Notes: War in the Pacific
The US Enters the War
 The US remained isolated politically and wanted to stay out of the conflict for as long as
possible.

The sympathies of the US were on the side of the Allies and Congress passed a series of
_________________________ that kept them neutral, while still helping the Allied cause.

The US stopped transporting ___________________, __________________________,
and other war materiél to Japan as they became more aggressive (1941)

Japan, under the leadership of ____________________, the leader of the pro-war party
and new Prime Minister, decided to attack the US Fleet stationed at _________________
on the island of Oahu
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
 Surprise attack by Japanese (organized by Admiral ____________________________)
on the US fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor – “A date which will live in infamy.” – FDR

December 7,1941 – Starts at 7:55 a.m. and lasts for about 2 hours

8 US battleships are attacked (3 sunk, 1 grounded, 4 damaged, 175 planes damaged)
Pearl Harbor, cont.

On the same day, the __________________, _____________ (US controlled), and Hong
Kong, _________________________ (British controlled) are attacked by the Japanese

December 8, 1941, the US declared war on Japan and entered the war on the side of the
Allies (Italy and Germany will declare war on the US on December 11, 1941)
Fall of Southeast Asian Colonies
 Japan seized control of rich __________________________________ through a planned
series of attacks

This helped Japan replenish depleted ____________________ and cut China off from its
______________________________ through Burma
Doolittle’s Raid (April 1942)
 US sent 16 _________________________ (led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle) to bomb
______________________________________ (as revenge for Pearl Harbor)

Proved that Japan wasn’t invulnerable to attack and raised ________________________
Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942)
 Japanese and American ___________________________________ fought to a draw

Battle used only ____________________________ and stopped the Japanese from
_______________________________________________________ toward Australia
Battle of Midway (June 1942)
 American carrier planes _____________________ the Japanese fleet that was poised to
attack ________________________________ that was a key American airfield

______________________________ in the war in the Pacific, turned tide to side of Allies
Battle of Guadalcanal (August 1942-February 1943)
 US marines with Australian support seized ____________________________ and fought
on land and sea for control of island

Forced Japan to abandon island and “__________________________________” begins
Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 1944)
 Japanese navy _____________________ – ceased to exist as a fighting force while
America had 4,000 ships

___________________________________________________________________

First use of _______________________________ aircraft (“special attack force)
Battles of Iwo Jima/Okinawa (February 1945, April-June 1945)
 Both battles were ____________________________________________________ on
islands close to Japan (won by the Americans)

____________________ rates were ____________________________ on both sides

Showed that the Japanese were in fact, ready to “_______________________________”