The War In the Pacific

Objectives:

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

• Identify key battles in the Pacific Theater.

• Identify Gen. MacAurthur and Admiral Nimitz.

• Define the term Island Hopping.• Explain the importance of victory in the

Pacific.

War in the Pacific

Japan held a great deal of territory early in the war.

The United States had a tough time after Pearl Harbor because of the lack of ships.

F.D.R. knew something had to be done to weaken the Japanese.

A Plan is Hatched.

• Two key figures devised a strategy to drive the Japanese out crucial locations throughout the Pacific Ocean.

• General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz called for U.S. forces to go on the offensive.

• General MacArthur led the Army, and Admiral Nimitz led the Navy and Marine Corps.

A New Strategy

• The idea of attacking the enemy and driving them out of certain locations as opposed to every island was called “leap-frogging.”

• The allies would use these key islands to supply forces and keep the war effort going.

Army Training Sir!!!!

• General MacArthur used the leap-frogging strategy to march his way to the Japanese mainland. This strategy was later known as Island hopping.

• His campaign took him through Guinea and the Philippines.

Battle of the Coral Sea

• May 7-8, 1942.• It was the first major

battle in the Pacific. • It was won by

Japanese forces. However it was an important victory for U.S. forces as well.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/coralsea/coralsea.htm

Midway

• June 4-7, 1942• Massive Naval battle

that occurred between Japanese Navy and U.S. Naval forces.

• This was a key turning point in the war.

Guadalcanal

• August 7, 1942 to February 21, 1943.

• Many Soldiers and Marines inflicted heavy losses to the Japanese forces.

Tarawa

• November 20-26, 1943

• U.S. Marines invaded the island and stormed a Japanese airfield.

• Both sides lost many men and the battle was named “Bloody Tarawa.”

Guam

• Guam was an important island located in the Pacific Ocean.

• It became a base that the United States took from the Japanese.

Iwo Jima

• Feb. 16 to March 26, 1945

• U.S. Marines stormed the island and then defeated the Japanese at Mt. Suribachi.

• Very famous photograph was taken here.

Okinawa

• April 1, 1945 to July 2, 1945.

• Many Americans, Japanese, and Okinawan civilians lost their lives here.

Calling for Help

• General MacArthur had noticed that the Japanese forces were fighting to the death.

• He asked President Harry S. Truman for help.

Questions to think about

• How do you think the war in the Pacific would have turned out if the Japanese were able to defeat the Allies at Guadalcanal?

• What is the importance of island hopping and leap frogging?