pacific war

Emperor Hirohito

Longest reigning monarch of Japan; presided over the invasion of China, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Japan's surrender to the Allies.

Military Junta

A form of authoritarian rule where the military seizes control of a nation.

Manchuria, 1931

Japanese invasion of China that paved the way for the broader conflict of World War II.

Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere

Facade for Japan's imperial expansion portrayed as liberation of Asian countries from Western colonial powers, but was a system of military occupation and economic exploitation.

2nd Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945

Conflict between China and Japan that contributed to the collapse of imperial Japan and the rise of the Communist regime in China.

Chiang Kai-Shek (Nationalists)

Chinese military and political leader who sought to unify China and resist foreign invasion.

Mao Zedong (Communists)

Chinese revolutionary leader who implemented radical policies to transform Chinese society.

Rape of Nanking, 1937

Mass killing, rape, and destruction committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

American Open Door Policy

Aimed to ensure equal trading rights for all nations in China and prevent any one country from dominating Chinese markets.

General Tojo

Prime Minister of Japan during much of World War II, responsible for key decisions leading to Japan's involvement in the conflict.

Admiral Yamamoto

Japanese naval officer responsible for planning and executing the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor, 1941

Surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. naval base; led to the U.S. declaring war on Japan.

Aircraft Carrier

A large, powerful warship designed primarily to carry, launch, and recover aircraft.

Doolittle Raid, 1942

Air raid conducted by the United States that successfully attacked the Japanese home islands.

Battle of the Coral Sea, 1942

Naval battle between U.S./Australia and the Empire of Japan for control of the South Pacific sea routes.

Battle of Midway, 1942

U.S. victory that weakened Japan's navy and marked a turning point in the war.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Prominent military leader involved in the postwar reconstruction of Japan.

Admiral Nimitz

U.S. naval officer known for executing successful campaigns in the Pacific Theater.

Island Hopping

Military strategy to bypass fortified Japanese positions and capture strategically important islands.

Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944

Part of the campaign to retake the Philippines from Japan; resulted in the end of Japanese naval power.

Kamikaze

Suicide attacks carried out by Japanese military aviators, symbolizing extreme nationalism.

Iwo Jima

Battle between U.S. Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army, allowing U.S. to strike Japan more effectively.

Okinawa

Bloodiest battle of the Pacific War, leading to the use of atomic bombs on Japan.

Strategic Bombing

Targeting and destroying an enemy's key infrastructure and military installations.

Potsdam Conference, 1945

Meeting of Allied forces to discuss the post-war order in Europe and Asia.

Harry Truman

U.S. President who decided to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Clement Attlee

Prime Minister of the UK known for leading the transformation of Britain into a welfare state.

Manhattan Project

Top secret project that produced the first nuclear weapons before Germany or Japan.

Hiroshima (Little Boy)

First atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Nagasaki (Fat Man)

Second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki.