T4: WWII Effects IDs Pacific Theater

Washington Naval Conference

Washington Naval Conference

(1922, US) The U.S. and nine other countries discussed naval disarmament. They felt that a naval arms race had contributed to the start of WWI. They created quotas for different classes of ships that could be built by each country based on its economic power and size of existing navies. 

Kellogg-Briand Pact

(1928, global) Outlaws war unless attacked.

Japan Invades Manchuria

(1931, Manchuria) It was the first step on the path to WWII. Violates Kellogg-Briand Pact and League of Nations. No one stops them → Appeasement. Imperialism would provide resources and more space

Stimson Doctrine

(1931, US) U.S. reaction to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria. It stated that the U.S. would not recognize any treaty that impinged on the sovereignty of China.

1935 Neutrality Act

(1935, US) Banned arms shipments to any country where a state of war existed. Also, he could forbid U.S. citizens from traveling on vessels of such countries except at their own risk. The act did not prohibit the sale of steel, copper, or oil.

1936 Neutrality Act

(1936, US) Gave the president the authority to determine when a state of war existed and prohibited loans to belligerents.

Second Sino-Japanese War Begins

(Jan. 1937-1945, China) Japan invades China’s northern provinces and eventually occupies much of China’s coastal regions.

1937 Neutrality Act with Cash and Carry Clause

(May 1937, US) Civil wars qualified as wars (Spain); fell under the act. Banned arms sales to belligerents. President could ban other materials as well. New clause: belligerent nations could trade for materials other than arms as long as they paid cash and transported the goods on non-American ships. FDR knew this would only aid the Allies since they had the cash & the ships were not subject to a blockade like the Germans.

Quarantine Speech

(Oct. 1937, US) FDR indicated his opposition to the isolationist attitude of the neutrality acts. In this, FDR compared Fascist aggression to a contagious disease, saying democracies must unite to isolate aggressor nations. He recommended an isolation of aggressors to preserve peace. This was a response to Japan’s aggression against China.

Panay Incident

(Dec. 1937, China) Japanese planes bombed a U.S. gunboat and 3 oil tankers on the Yangtze River in China, killing 2 Americans. Yielding to US public pressures on the administration, the Japanese agree to apologize for this “accident.”

1939 Neutrality Act with Cash and Carry

(Nov. 5, 1939, US) After a fierce debate in Congress, this final one passed. This lifted the arms embargo and put all trade with belligerent nations under the terms of “cash-and-carry.” The ban on loans remained in effect, and American ships were barred from transporting goods to belligerent ports.

Tripartite Pact

(Sep. 1940) Germany, Italy, and Japan sign a pact creating the “Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis”.

Lend-Lease Act

(Mar. 1941, US) Authorized the president to transfer any article of defensive equipment to any government whose defense was deemed vital to the defense of the U.S. Allowed the U.S. to send supplies and ammunition to the Allies without technically becoming a co-belligerent. This was designed to help Britain who was running out of cash. Also extended to France, China, and USSR.

Japan Takes Control of French Indochina

(Jul. 1941, SE Asia) Easy target after France is taken by Germany. Vichy France could not stop Japanese aggression.

Atlantic Charter

(Aug. 1941, Newfoundland (Canada)) Document issued by FDR and Churchill during their secret meeting near Newfoundland. It had these 8 main principles: 1. Renunciation of territorial aggression. 2. No territorial changes without the consent of the peoples concerned. 3. Restoration of sovereign rights and self-government. 4. Access to raw materials for all nations. 5. World economic cooperation. 6. Freedom from want and fear. 7. Freedom of the seas. 8. Disarmament of aggressors.

US Oil Embargo on Japan

(Sep. 1941, US-Japan) Economic sanctions done in response to Japanese aggression in Asia; Japan then plans to attack US.

US-Japanese Negotiations

(Nov.-Dec. 7, 1941, US-Japan) Agreements between Japan and the US over Indochina, China, and oil.

Pearl Harbor

(Dec. 7, 1941, Hawaii) 7:50-10:00 AM – Surprise attack by 361 Japanese warplanes on the main US Pacific Fleet harbored in Hawaii. They disabled 19 US sips and 200 aircraft. American losses were 2,300, Japanese losses less than 100. In response, the US declares war on Japan.

Japanese Invades the Philippines, Guam, and Hong Kong / Bataan Death March

(Dec. 7, 1941, The Pacific) Japan simultaneously attacks Pearl Harbor and the US’ territories in the Pacific. Japan takes the territories. The Japanese force the US soldiers on a march in the Philippines. General MacArthur has to evacuate the island.

US Declares War on Japan

(Dec. 8, 1941, US) FDR- “A day which will live in infamy”.

Executive Order 9066: Japanese Internment

(Feb. 1942, US) Pearl Harbor created widespread fear that the Japanese living in the US were actually spies. FDR issued this, which moved all Japanese and people of Japanese descent living on the west coast of the US into internment camps in the interior of the US.

Battle of Coral Sea

(May 1942, Pacific) Carrier-based US planes halt Japanese advance on Australia.

Midway

(Jun. 1942, Central Pacific) Threat on Hawaii ended as 4 Japanese aircraft carriers are sunk. Turning point in the Pacific for the US.

Guadalcanal

(Feb. 1943, South Pacific) Americans take first island in start of island-hopping strategy.

Cairo Conference

(Nov. 1943, Egypt) A meeting of Allied leaders Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek in Egypt to define the Allies’ goals with respect to the war against Japan; they announced their intention to seek Japan’s unconditional surrender and to strip Japan of all territory it had gained since WWI.

Tehran Conference

(Nov.-Dec. 1943, Iran) FDR, Stalin, and Churchill (“the big three”) agreed to a second front in the west to relieve the Russians within 6 months. USSR pledged to enter the war against Japan when Germany was defeated. An international organization for peace was planned (future United Nations).

Dumbarton Oaks Conference

(Aug.-Oct. 1944, Washington DC) (Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization) Representative of the US, USSR, UK, and China formulated a plan to create the United Nations (UN): Every nation would be represented in the General Assembly. 5 permanent members (US, USSR, UK, China, and France) would be the Security Council (SC), along with temporary delegates from other nations. Each major power could veto SC decisions *These agreements were the basis for the drafting of the UN charter at a conference of 50 nations in San Francisco in April 1945. The UN charter is ratified by the US Senate, August 8, 1945

Battle of Leyte Gulf

(Oct. 1944, Philippine Sea) Victory for the Allies. Disaster for Japan: lost 4 aircraft carriers, 3 battleships, 13 cruisers & 500 planes. Japanese navy no longer a major force.

Yalta Conference

(Feb. 1945, Crimea (southern Ukraine)) Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met to make final war plans, arrange the post-war fate of Germany, and discuss the proposal for creation of the United Nations as a successor to the League of Nations. They announced the decision to divide Germany into three post-war zones of occupation, although a fourth zone was later created for France. Russia also agreed to enter the war against Japan, in exchange for the Kuril Islands and half of the Sakhalin Peninsula. The USSR was given half of Poland and an occupation zone in Korea. The plan for the UN was ratified. Stalin gets a lot from this meeting (FDR doesn’t know how long it will take to defeat Japan; counting on support from USSR to do so); sets the stage for future Cold War clashes.

Iwo Jima

(Feb.-Mar. 1945, South of Japan) The American invasion of the island had the goal of capturing the entire island, including its three airfields, to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II.

Tokyo Bombing Raids

(Mar. 1945, Japan) American bombers destroy 250,000 buildings and kill 83,000 in massive fire-bombing.

Okinawa

(Apr.-Jun. 1945, South of Japan) The US Army in the Pacific had been pursuing an “island hopping” campaign, moving north from Australia towards Japan. On April 1, 1945, they invaded this island, only 300 miles south of the Japanese home islands. By the time the fighting ended on June 2, 1945, the US had lost 50,000 men and the Japanese 100,000.

General MacArthur Retakes Philippines

(Jul. 1945, Philippines) After Manila’s fall to Americans in May, Japanese surrender here after inflicting 60,000 US casualties.

Potsdam Conference

(Jul. 1945, Germany) Allied leaders Truman, Stalin, and Churchill met in Germany to set up zones of control in Europe and to inform the Japanese that if they refused to surrender unconditionally at once, they would face total destruction.

Hiroshima

(Aug. 6, 1945, Japan) US drops “little boy” atomic bomb, secretly developed during the war via the Manhattan Project. 180,000 killed, wounded, or missing after atomic bomb is dropped. 2 days later USSR enters war against Japan.

UN Charter

(Aug. 8, 1945) President Truman signs this, US joins UN.

Nagasaki

(Aug. 9, 1945, Japan) Second atomic bomb, “fat man,” is dropped after Japanese delay surrender. 80,000 killed or missing.

V-J Day

(Aug. 15, 1945, Tokyo Bay) Victory over Japan. The war with Japan ended. On September 2, 1945, Japan signs surrender papers with one term: the emperor must be allowed to retain his throne. They are signed on the battleship Missouri.

Nuremberg War Crimes Trials / Tokyo War Crimes Trials

(1945-1948, Germany and Japan) International military tribunal tried major war criminals at Germany (1945-46) and in Japan (1946-48). In Germany, 12 criminals were sentenced to be hanged; in Japan, 7.