-
Japan Invades Manchuria
The Japanese attack on Manchuria directly challenged the League of Nations, condemning them of their aggression (Start of war). -
Japan Invades China
Also called the Second Sino-Japanese War, a conflict that broke out when China began a full-scale resistance to the expansion of Japanese influence in its territory. On December 13th, 1937, Nanking fell to the Japanese. In the next six weeks, the Japanese committed the infamous Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, during which an estimated 300,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed, and 20,000 women were raped. -
Manhattan Project
Headed by General Leslie Groves and chief scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer this top-secret project was designed to create the first atomic bomb. This project became a major spending item in the U.S. military budgets. The first use of the bomb was tested in Mexico on July 16, 1945. Truman then warned Japan to surrender or expect a “rain of ruin from the air”. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese airplanes made a surprise attack on the US Navy in Pearl Harbor. They destroyed many ships and killed many soldiers. It was this attack that forced the United States to enter World War II. -
Doolittle Raid
Because the U.S. wanted to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lieutenant James H. Doolittle commanded 16 B-25 bombers to attack Tokyo. The attack not only boosted America’s confidence but also revealed an important point: the Japanese could be attacked, deflating Japan’s ego. -
Battle of Coral Sea
Instead of using their ships as weapon, both the Japanese and Allies used airplanes, a new kind of naval warfare that took off from huge aircraft carriers. The battle prevented the Japanese from seizing Australia and stopped their southward expansion. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
Mac Arthur had heard that the Japanese were building a huge air base on the island of Guadalcanal. He knew that the Allies had to attack fast before the base was completed. The Japanese were caught unprepared as the Allies attacked. -
"Little Boy" Dropped in Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. As a result, 70,000 Japanese were killed immediately and later 100,000 died because of radiation poisoning and cancer. -
"Fat Man" Dropped in Nagasaki
The second atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki, Japan. As a result, the Japanese finally surrendered. The acute effects of the atomic bombings killed 90,000–146,000 people in Hiroshima and 39,000–80,000 people in Nagasaki. Roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. -
Demilitarization of Japan
To ensure that the fighting would end, MacArthur disbanded the Japanese armed forces. The Japanese were left with a small police force. Demilitarization process ended up resulting in changing Japan’s government to be more of parliamentary democracy. A new constitution was then created. (1946-1951)