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In 1940 Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy. This provided a mutual assistance between them.
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In 1941 Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps which allowed more women to get involved in the Armed Forces.
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In 1941 General Hideki Tojo became the Japanese prime minister. He focused on military expansion but sought to keep the United States neutral.
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In December of 1941, General Douglas MacArthur, commander of United States Army forces in Asia, struggled to hold the U.S. positions in the Philippines with little support.
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Japan attacked the US Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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A day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, The United States declares war on Japan.
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In January of 1942 the United States Government set up the War Production Board.
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The Battle of Coral Sea and the Doolittle Raid gave the United States a renewed sense of confidence.
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In May of 1942, The Japanese moved to take Port Moresby in New Guinea. From that position they could threaten Australia and protect their military base in Rabaul.
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On May 7 and 8, In the middle of the Pacific storm, Japanese and U.S. aircraft carriers engage in battle. This was the first sea fight in which enemy warships never sighted each other.
