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Period: to
WW2 in the Pacific
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Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese surprise attacked Pearl Harbor and put America into shock. Nearly 20 American naval vessels, including 8 battleships, and more than 300 airplanes were destroyed. The day after, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan. -
Executive Order 9066 and Korematsu vs. United States
Signed and issues by President Roosevelt authorizing the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones, clearing the way for the deportation of Japanese Americans. Korematsu says this violated his rights. -
Doolittle Raid (Tokyo Raid)
The first air raid to strike Japanese Islands. The United States raided the Japanese capital Tokyo and other places during WW2 by air. -
Battle at Midway
The United States defeated Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles of WWII. It allowed the Allies to move into an offensive position. Important turning point in the Pacific campaign. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
Code-named Operation Watchtower, applying to an operation to take the island if Tulagi by Allied forces. It was the first major offensive and decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific. -
The Island Hopping Strategy
The goal was to capture the Pacific Islands one by one, advancing towards Japan. The United States wanted to gain military bases and secure the small islands. -
MacArthur Returns to the Philippines
MacArthur promised his men and the people of Philippines that he would return when he was informed that there were few Allied troops in Australia and that the ones trapped in the Philippines would not be relieved. On October 20, 1944 he waded ashore a Philippine Island and declared "People of the Philippines, I have returned!" -
Battle of Iwo Jima
A major battle in which the U.s. Marines landed and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese. This 5 week battle included some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting in the war. -
Atomic Bombs: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
American bomber dropped the world's first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city Hiroshima and then later over Nagasaki. A total of about 120,000 people were killed. -
V-J Day
A formal surrender ceremony was held in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri. President Truman declared this day as V-J Day (Victory over Japan or Victory in the Pacific).
