Americas Response to Pearl Harbor

Japanese Americans
1942, Over 100,000 People of Japanese descent were placed in internment
camps.
Possible acts of espionage and sabotage
Justification: National security and potential war zone
Japanese Internment
People let this happen because they were scared
Gearing up for War
1940, Industry coming out of the Great Depression
1942, American production was equal to Germany, Italy, and Japan combined
Production doubled those countries by 1944
Us Government regulated industry and controlled wages
Role of Women
1945, 258,000 women were serving in the armed forces
An additional 6 million women entered the workforce
Took a variety of jobs
Lumberjacks, furnace operators, blacksmiths
National Spirit
Japanese American Relations
1931-1940: Japanese military aggression was militarily unopposed the US.
1940- Japan became a partner of Germany and Italy.
Japan attacked and expanded through China-1941
US Response: Embargo on all trade with Japan.
US and Japan Met; Sticking Point: China
Japan wanted US to cut off aid to China
US demanded Japanese to withdraw from China.
Japan had a choice: Give up dream of an empire to go to war, they choose war
Role of Minorities
About 1,000,000 African Americans served in WW1
Still served segregated regiments.
Many migrated to cities taking industrial Jobs
Executive order 8802 outlawed discrimination government jobs.
Conserve and Ration
Rationing was used to assure availability of scarce items
Heating oil, shoes, sugar, meat, rubber, gasoline
The allied forces needed everything the US could produce.
American Strategy
Get Hitler First-Why?
If Germany won in Europe the US would face aggressor nations alone.
Russia wanted a second front in Europe.
Instead, Allies decided to invade North Africa.
Operation Torch
Invasion of North Africa November 1942
Germany was lead by General Erwin Rommel
British were lead by General Bernard Montgomery
US and British forces strike from the west to North with 350 war ships.

 Mostly British soldiers but there were 35000 American troops

Germany lost 500 tanks, 400 guns, and 60,000 men.
Huge success for allies.
Invasion of Italy
July 10 1943- 250,000 US & British Forces Land on Sicilian coastline.
Germans flee to the Italian mainland
Italians sick of War, Mussolini forced to resign.
Thousands of German troops captured
Mussolini shot and hung
Control the Air
British and US forces bomb Germany
British Saturation Bombing
Started 1941, bombed whole areas at night, set cities on fire
US Pinpoint Bombing
Started 1942 during the day and destroyed crucial factories
Operation Overlord
General Dwight D Eisenhower
Objective: Create a second front in Europe by invading France
Must win scenario
Proper Conditions
Invasion had to begin at night
To hide the ships crossing the English channel
needed half moonlight
ships had to arrive at low tide, so they could see the beach
obstacles
low tide had to be at dawn because the bombers needed to be
able to see
Dday
Invasion begins June 6 1944
Allies achieved tactical surprise
secured beach head, one of the greatest allied achievements of WW1
Battle of the Bulge
December 16 1944- Germans final offence attack to break the allies
Germans penetrated 60 miles, creating bulge in the allied lines
The bulge was pitched off by the end of January
Patton and Montgomery stepped to the advancing germans
Germans lose 12000 of their best remaining men.
Yalta Conference
Feb 1945, Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet to talk about the Natzi Surrender
Death of FDR
April 12 1945
The nation feels that they have lost a friend
Collapse of Germany
March 1945, Allies were closing in, US forces from the west and the Red Army
from the East
Allies concerned with Soviet domination of Eastern Europe
Do not want to trace Natzi tyrany for Soviet tyrany
May 8, Germans surrender-known as VE day

Extent of Japanese Country

Very successful after Pearl Harbor
Controlled 45000 mile area of the PAcific by march 1942
Island Hopping
Allies invaded strategic islands and bypassed others
June 4 1942-Battle of Midway-US victory
Japans first great Naval defeat; A big turning point
Aug 7 1942- Battle for Guadalcanal - US Victory
Our troops first exposure to land battle with the Japanese
The fighting was fierce and brutal- The Japanese would not surrender.
October 20 1944- Reconquest of the philippines begin
Led by Mcarthur, the US crushes the Japanese and knocks their navy out of the
war
Feb-March 1945- Iwo Jima (650 miles from Tokyo)
US Victory-Operation Detachment
Gaol-Secure airfield
Heavy losses: 6821 US deaths
Flag raised: Mt Suribachi
March 9-10 Tokyo Firebombing -Operation Meetinghouse
targeted industrial sites, but was a very populated area
Utilized 334 B-29 superfortress airplanes
100000 ie in the attack, 1 million homeless
April- June 1945 Okinawa US victory
Brutal Fighting -Japan considered it a home island
12,513 Americans died
Within striking distance of Japan: Victory is in sight
The Atomic Bomb
Developed after germans and italians surrendered;Manhattan Project
Potsdam Declaration (Ultimatum)-Allies warned the Japanese: the alternative to surrender is
prompt and utter destruction
August 6 1945-bomb dropped on Hiroshima
August 9 1945- A bomb is dropped on Nagasaki
VJ Day August 14 1945