WORLD WAR 2
- OVERVIEW:
- Japan wanted to become a world power, but had limited resources as it was an island. This meant that they had to import many resources, but this put them in a position of economic weakness.
- Japan felt that it needed to conquer more land to become a more powerful world force.
- 1937- Japan invades China.
- 1940- Japan enters into the Axis alliance with Germany and Italy.
- 1941- Japan has a new Prime Minister who sets sights on attacking the US.
- December 7, 1941- Pearl Harbor, the US joined the Allies the next day.
- The Japanese took much of Southeast Asia.
- June 4, 1942- The Battle of Midway, prevented Japanese from total dominance in the Pacific Theater.
- After the Battle of Midway, the USA was able to fight back against the Japanese.
- US, under Admiral Chester Nimitz, adopted a strategy of “island-hopping.” That is, they would take the Pacific one island at a time and hold the territory.
- 1943- The Battle of the Treasury Islands, “Operation Goodtime.” Carried out mostly by New Zealand forces, supported by the USA.
- 1944- American forces liberated the Philippines
- 1945- US drops the Atomic bomb, which leads to a surrender from the Japanese.
