Social Studies 10 Lessons

By: Gen L

Lesson 9: War in the Pacific, Part I & II

9.1: Part I

Japan

• Were in the process of expanding their empire
• Continuing south, they secured resources (rubber, tin, oil)
• US had denied Japan oil (available in the Dutch East Indies)
• To gain and control resources, Japan needed control of the seas
• 7 Dec, 1941: Japanese attack Pearl Harbour, Hong Kong, Malaya, Philippines, Wake Island and Midway Island.

Pearl Harbour

• Most significant
• Used carrier based aircraft to strike the US Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbour, Hawai'i
• 7 Dec, 1941: Canada declares war on Japan, a day later, US joins
• US honoured a pledge to Br, adopting a policy of "Hitler First"
• US would fight Japan, but priority was on Hitler.
• Major turning point, brought US into the war.

Hong Kong

• 1,975 inexperienced Canadian troops sent to Hong Kong
• 50,000 Japanese troops attacked on the 7 Dec.
• Canadians held off the Japanese for more than two weeks.
• In one battle, 100 Canadians held off two regiments, inflicting 800+ casualties.
• The Japanese commander was forced to apologise after learning how many defenders caused the casualties.

Hong Kong, pt 2

• Christmas Day, 1941: Japanese occupy Hong Kong
• 555 Canadians died, (around 1/2 in Japanese prison camps.)

9.2: Part II

Previously,

• The Japanese were successful through the first half of 1942, with well trained and experienced troops.
• US had a policy of "Hitler First" (more men & equip. to Gr.)
• America's strength was temporarily impacted by Pearl Harbour
• Japan expanded west to the edge of India, north to the Aleutians, south almost to Australia and east nearly to Midway.

Coral Sea & Midway

• June, 1942: Battle of Midway was a success for the US.
• US sunk 4 Japanese Carriers, only losing 1.
  • This was a Turning point in the war
• Japanese tenatiously held on to every island they had. Battles were hard, loss of life high.
• US used a method called "Island Hopping"
  • As each island was taken, air cover would extend US power to next island.

Leyte Gulf

• Oct, 1944: US begins landing troops on Leyte
• The Japanese offered one last naval offensive, a desperate attack to destroy the American fleet.
• Japanese were outnumbered in men and equipment.
• US effectively sank the remaining offensive power the Japanese navy had
• For Japan, this was the decisive loss. (foreshadowing)

Iwo Jima

• Feb, 1945: US attacks the island of Iwo Jima
• Important for its airbases. Kamikaze pilots used it, and US fighters could use to escort bombers to Japan
• Took over a month to take the island
• Marines lost 6,891 men killed and 18,070 wounded.
• Of the 20,000 Japanese soldiers, only 212 were taken prisoner
• Location of famous picture of Americans raising the flag on the mountaintop

Preparing for Invasion

• In the US, scientists were working on a new weapon: The Atomic Bomb
• This plan was the Manhattan Project.
• After a successful test, the US decided to use the bomb as an alternative.
• Other considerations were that the Soviets were preparing to attack Japan.
• US was suspicious of Stalin's intentions in Germany, and weren't prepared to offer him influence in the Pacific.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki

• 6 Aug, 1945: US drops the first atomic bomb. The city of Hiroshima is obliterated.
• 9 Aug, 1945: A second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. The US threatens more, even though it's their last.
• 15 Aug, 1945: The Japanese are forced to surrender. The destructive power is overwhelming.
• 2 Sept, 1945: In Tokyo Bay, on the deck of the US Battleship Missouri, the Emperor signs the articles of surrender. WWII is over.

Next Unit