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Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, which launched an all out war in China by 1937, and expanded into Southeast Asia. This aggressive growth sought to assure the acquisition of natural resources and dominance over the Pacific. Such invasions created Japan's empire and directly led to tensions with Western powers, which caused the Pacific War.
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Japan attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii without warning, sinking or damaging eight battleships and killing over 2,400 Americans. The attack brought the United States into World War II, turning a regional conflict into a global one. -
A naval battle between Japan and Allied forces was fought entirely by aircraft from carriers. Neither fleet saw the other directly. It stopped Japan’s advance toward Australia and marked the first time a Japanese offensive was halted. Timetoast
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U.S. forces ambushed Japan’s fleet near Midway Island after decoding Japanese plans. Four Japanese carriers were sunk. It was the turning point of the Pacific War, ending Japan’s dominance at sea and putting the U.S. on the offensive. Timetoast
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U.S. Marines landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, battling Japanese troops for six months. This was the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific and began the island-hopping strategy toward Japan.
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A series of Allied attacks aimed to isolate the Japanese base at Rabaul without the capturing of it directly. It demonstrated the success of the island-hopping strategy, saving lives and accelerating Japan’s retreat.
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The U.S. occupied Japan under General Douglas MacArthur, writing a new constitution and rebuilding the country. Transformed Japan into a democracy, ending its militarism and creating a lasting U.S. Japan alliance.
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American forces invaded Iwo Jima in order to capture its airfields for bombing runs over Japan. The fighting was brutal and costly. Capturing it gave the U.S. a strategic base for air operations near Japan, and it produced one of the war's most iconic images.
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The largest amphibious assault in the Pacific had enormous casualties on both sides. It showed how fiercely Japan would fight to defend its home islands, influencing the U.S. decision to use atomic bombs instead of invading.
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The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing more than 100,000 people. This was soon followed by the surrender of Japan. Ended World War II in the Pacific and started the nuclear age Timetoast