Download Chapter 22 Section 1 - A World at War Again

Section
I
Words to Know
Axis Powers
the countries that fought the Allies in World War II
mobilize
to get ready for war
siege
a
military blocking of
a
city to force its surrender
December 7, 1947, Japanese planes attacked Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. The following day, the United States
found itself at war for the second time in less than 25
years. As the war spread, few places were left untouched.
The United States Declares War
Americans were shocked by the surprise attack
on Pearl Harbor. The day after the attack on Pearl
Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan.
The United States had now joined Great Britain and
the Soviet Union. In June 794I, Germany attacked the
Soviet Union, bringing the Soviet Union into the war.
Now the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great
Britain were allies fighting against the Axis Powers.
The Axis Powers is the name given to the countries
that fought the Allies in World War II. Three days later,
on December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on
the United States.
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As soon as war was declared, the United States began
to mobilize its forces. To mobilize is to get ready for war.
More than ten million men were drafted. Another six
million American men and women volunteered.
Why did the United States declare war on Japan?
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Unit 7 . The United States in Crisis
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Japan Grows More Powerful
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Within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese
bombers attacked other U.S. bases. The Japanese leader,
Hideki Toio, was certain that Japan would become the
most powerful empire in the world. By May 1942, Toio's
hope seemed to be coming true. Japan had taken control
of Hong Kong and Singapore in Asia. Its forces had
also taken control of the U.S. islands in the Pacific
Ocean and the Philippine Islands. The Japanese takeover
of the Philippine Islands was a great loss for the United
States. American troops had been stationed there since
the Spanish-American War of 1898.
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In the battle for control of the Philippines, Filipino
troops fought bravely along with the Americans.
They were all were under the command of General
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Douglas MacArthur.
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The Japanese pushed the American and Filipino
troops farther into the Philippines. The area was
known as Bataan. Once there the Japanese trapped the
Americans and put them under siege. A siege is a
military blocking of a city to force its surrender.
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As the situation got worse, President Roosevelt
ordered General MacArthur to go to Australia. The
President wanted MacArthur to take command of all
the Allied forces there. As MacArthur was leaving the
Philippines, he said, "I shall return."
GeneralDouglas
MacArthur
The starving Americans and Filipinos soon had to
surrender. The Japanese forced them to march about
65 miles to prison camps. The prisoners had no food
or water. The iourney came to be known as the Bataan
Death March.
iffigwnat areas did
Japan take control of by L942?
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Chapter 22 . A World at War
lrrT
. 1941-1945 407
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The Allies Make Plans
While the Axis Powers were taking over Europe
and Asia, the three most powerful Allied leaders were
planning to fight back. They were Franklin Roosevelt of
the United States, Winston Churchill of Great Britain,
and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. Thesé Allied
leaders were called the Big Three.
The Big Three agreed that they would first have to
defeat the Axis forces in Europe. Each leader presented
his plan. Stalin said the United States and Britain should
attack the west coast of Europe. Roosevelt said the
United States and Britain should start the attack in
France. Churchill said the United States and Britain
should attack Italy first through North Africa.
The three leaders agreed that the defeat of Germany
was the most important goal. Finally, they decided to
attack North Africa first, where German forces were the
weakest. Then they would attack the west coast of
Europe. Finally, they would attack the Pacific area.
I,Vhat plan did the Allies decide to use to fight the
Axis powers?
Section 1 Review
L. How did the United States mobilize for war?
2. How were Americans and Filipinos on Bataan
treated by the Japanese forces?
3. GriticalThinking Why did the Allied leaders
decide to attack North Africa first?
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4. Write About History You are a reporter for an
American newspaper. Write a story describing
the meeting of the Allied leaders.
Unit 7 . The United States in Crisis