World War II

By: Ryan HobertWorld War IIThe War in the Pacific, 1937-19421937- Battle between Chinese and Japanese troops break out at Marco Polo BridgeTriggered full-scale war with ChinaSparking the Pacific WarRape of Nanjing- Japan launching full-scale attack on Nanjing which lead to capturing the city.America cut off trade with Japan and froze its assets in July 1941.Japan responded with the bombing of Pearl HarborDecember 7th, 1941300 planesDestroyed at least 180 planes and killed more than 2,000 people.

The War in the Pacific, 1937-1942 ContinuedSame day as the attack at Pearl Habor, Japan attacked Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaya and other bases in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.Mid 1942- Japan had conquered Philippines, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Indoneisia, parts of New Guinea, Indochina, Thailand and Burma.Naming the conquests Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity SphereResults of World War II50 million people dead- 30 million civilianJapanese victories could be seen as responsible for ending European colonialism in the Pacific regionWhen European colonizers tried to return British to Burma and Malaya; French to Indochina; Dutch to Indoneisia, Nationalist groups protested, leading to independence. Increase of use of technologyTanks, Submarines and aircraft.

Horrors of World War IIExtermination of an entire people, jews, by the Nazis without any apparent goal. GENOCIDE. Nazi Program1. Reversed the trend of acceptance and civic equality for Jews.2. Targeted Jews as an ethnic group, not a religious group.3. Used all the technological and organizational skills at its nations disposal to carry out the mission. By 1945, 6 million Jews dead, as well as inferior races such as Gypsies, Poles, Homosexuals and Handicapped people.This butchery was named The Holocaust.

Nazi SwastikaHorrors of World War II ContinuedThe atomic bombs dropped by USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. On August 6th, 1945, of the 245,000 occupants of Hiroshima, 75,000 died that day. Another 100,000 after, due to the radiationThree days later, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.August 14th, Japan surrendors.

Atomic bomb in HiroshimaPolitical Reconstruction in JapanJapanUnder American occupation by General Douglas MacArthurFour goals- Punishing some Japanese leaders as war criminals; establishing democratic institutions and practices; reviving the devastated Japanese economy; and enlisting Japan as an ally in the new Cold War against the USSR. All four goals were achieved (Spodek)New constitution issued in 1947Occupation AuthorityRedistributed agricultural land (Spodek)The largest Zaibatsu were dissolved into their constituent companies and anti-monopoly legislation was passed. (Spodek)Encouraged the formation of labor unions, legalizing the right to organize, bargain, and strike. (Spodek)

Political Reconstruction in GermanyOne/Fourth of housing stock was destroyed as was about half of the economic infrastructure.Lack of food supplies left many Germans malnourished.The German state no longer existed, but was divided into four parts: American, British, French and Russian.Berlin Blockade of 1948Russians barred the entrance and exit of people and supplies to and from Berlin in an attempt to gain control of the city. (Spodek)

Works Cited Spodek, Howard. The World's History, Volume 2: Since 1100 (3rd Edition). 3 ed. Alexandria, VA: Prentice Hall, 2005. Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima. 1945. Timegun, Hiroshima, Japan. Remembering Hiroshima. Web. 25 May 2010.Nazi Swastika. N.d. Top News. Web. 25 May 2010.