world war II in the pacific
World War II int he Pacific was mainly fought between the Japanese and the United States. The end of World War II in the Pacific also marked the end of World War II, since World War II in Europe already ended. The war in the Pacific eventually ended with use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese then surrendered on September 1, 1945, officially ending World War II.
During the few battles in the Pacific, the Japanese earned many early victories, forcing the Americans to retreat from the Philippines. However, General Douglas MacArthur promised to return. In 1942, the Americans were on an offensive, and defeated the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. America was able to invade Guadalcanal in the August of 1942, and they also freed the Aleutians in the May of 1943. The United States then began an "island-hopping" campaign, where they went from island to island in the Pacific, taking back many islands that were under Japanese control while they traveled towards the Japanese mainland. In the June of 1944, the Americans captured the Japanese island Saipan, and Guam was taken a month later. On March 1945, the United States also took over Iwo Jima.
General MacArthur kept his promise to return to the Philippines, and some victories in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Americans landed in the Philippines in January 1945 at Luzon. In China, Chiang Kai-Shek lead the Chinese Army to battle the Japanese. By January 1945, the Ledo Road was opened, helping the Allies send supplies to the Chinese so they can drive out the Japanese. With the war almost to an end, Harry S. Truman decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan in order to end the war quickly, and prevent the larger loss of life from an invasion of the Japanese mainland. On August 6th, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th, killin 100,000 people instantly, and wounding more. On September 1, 1945, the Japanese officially surrendered. This day was known as V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day and was officially the end of World War II.
During the few battles in the Pacific, the Japanese earned many early victories, forcing the Americans to retreat from the Philippines. However, General Douglas MacArthur promised to return. In 1942, the Americans were on an offensive, and defeated the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. America was able to invade Guadalcanal in the August of 1942, and they also freed the Aleutians in the May of 1943. The United States then began an "island-hopping" campaign, where they went from island to island in the Pacific, taking back many islands that were under Japanese control while they traveled towards the Japanese mainland. In the June of 1944, the Americans captured the Japanese island Saipan, and Guam was taken a month later. On March 1945, the United States also took over Iwo Jima.
General MacArthur kept his promise to return to the Philippines, and some victories in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Americans landed in the Philippines in January 1945 at Luzon. In China, Chiang Kai-Shek lead the Chinese Army to battle the Japanese. By January 1945, the Ledo Road was opened, helping the Allies send supplies to the Chinese so they can drive out the Japanese. With the war almost to an end, Harry S. Truman decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan in order to end the war quickly, and prevent the larger loss of life from an invasion of the Japanese mainland. On August 6th, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th, killin 100,000 people instantly, and wounding more. On September 1, 1945, the Japanese officially surrendered. This day was known as V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day and was officially the end of World War II.
The two atomic bombs used on Hiroshima and nagasaki;
Little boy and fat man
Links to External Links
Brainpop World War II
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/worldwarii/preview.weml
Brainpop Hiroshima and Nagasaki
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/hiroshimaandnagasaki/preview.weml
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/worldwarii/preview.weml
Brainpop Hiroshima and Nagasaki
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/hiroshimaandnagasaki/preview.weml