Chapter+9+-+World+War+II+Pacific

__** CHAPTER 9 - WORLD WAR II: THE PACIFIC WAR, 1941-1945 **__ In this lesson we will discuss the events that led to the war in the Pacific and the Navy's role in World War II. We will talk about how Japanese control spread throughout the Pacific. We will also look at the "gap" in the Japanese homeland, and the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Battle of Coral Sea was a significant "first" in naval history. We'll talk about what the first was, why it was important and additionally how the Japanese advance was turned back as a result of it. We will discuss the Battle of Midway - the turning point of the war in the Pacific. Following the Allied victory at the Battle of Midway, both Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur thought it was time for a counter-offensive. The Solomon Islands became the objective of both the Allied and Japanese forces. We will discuss the Solomon Islands operations, the battles of Guadalcanal and the invasion of New Guinea. We will look at the submarine operations in the Pacific and talk about how the Pacific operations differed from those against Germany in the Atlantic. The early battles paved the way for the invasion of the Philippines, where some of the bloodiest battles of the war were fought. We will look at the Battles of Leyte Gulf and discuss the strategy the Japanese used and why they eventually failed. We will talk about the battle of Iwo Jima and why logistically, it was so valuable to whoever occupied it. We will look at Okinawa, the last Japanese counterattack and the strategy the Japanese used. Ending the war was not a simple matter for the Japanese even when they knew they had lost. We will talk about why. We will also look at the terms of surrender spelled out by the Potsdam Conference. Finally, we will discuss the introduction of atomic weapons into the war and talk about how Japan surrendered. We will discuss the effects the atomic bomb had on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Alternate Homework Assignment: (Short essay each question)
1. Research the main provisions of the contingency plan //War Plan Orange// first drawn up by naval planners in 1911. How were its provisions carried out during the War in the Pacific during World War II? 2. The admiral in charge of Pearl Harbor, Admiral Husband Kimmel, was relieved of command and forced to retire as a result of the sneak attack by the Japanese in December 1941. His descendants have tried to reverse this action ever since. Research the attack and form an opinion on whether the admiral should have been found culpable with regard to the attack. Justify your position. 3. Much intrigue surrounds the role that the Japanese mini-submarines played during he sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Research this issue and state the probable role of the submarines during this action. 4. President Truman's decision to end World War II y the use of atomic weapons has been a contentious issue among historians over the last several decades. State the pros and cons of this decision, and the modern consequences that resulted from it.