The War in the Pacific

Read Chapter 25-3, The War in the Pacific (Stop at the end of page 790) and answer the following questions. These are due at the beginning of class Friday. Title: War in the Pacific Labels: Atomic_Bomb, Truman, Pacific_War, Japan, MacArthur, Battle_of_Midway, Manhattan_Project, Iwo_Jima.

1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?
Its importance was that it was a turning point in the Pacific War and WWII for america. America was deffinatley the most prepared in this battle and caught the japanese with their boats on the deck. They destroyed air craft carriers and planes. Japanese officials even said the it avenged pearl harbor.

2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
They began island hopping taking each island as they moved towards japan.

3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
The japanese had so many troops on Iwo Jima that the americans had to fight hard. Also if they took Iwo Jima they would only have to take Okinawa in order to bomb japan.

4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?
This battle cost thousands of american lives and was long and tough. This allowed us to realize that in order to invade japan more lives would be lost and more time needed.

5. What was the Manhattan Project?
The creation of the atomic bomb led by General Leslie Groves and by American Scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer.

6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
He felt that it was the only way to end the war. He gave japan the chance to surrender and when they didnt he dropped the bomb.