The War in the Pacific

1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?

The battle was the turning point of the Pacific aspect of the war. The US devistated the Japanese, destorying 4 aircraft carriers with 250 planes. After this battle the US continued to push the Japanese back across the Pacific towards Asia.

2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?

After Midway, the US stayed on the offensive, "leapfroging" from one pacific island to the other in order to push the Japanese back and lessen their presence in the Pacific.

3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?

The Japanese realized that their chances of not completly loseing the war were diminishing and that a loss at Iwp Jima would mean almost certain failure of the war.


4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?

They believed the great losses suffered at Okinawa would be what an invasion of Japan would be like becasue of highly defended the island was. Japan itself would be similarly defended, which would mean a similar resistance and death toll.

5. What was the Manhattan Project?

The Manhattan Project was a project led by many US scientists who developed the atomic bomb.

6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?

He decided it was necessary to drop the bomb becasue in the long run it would save lives. As much destruction as it caused it prevented all the destruction that an invasion and lenghtly battle would have caused.