War in the Pacific

1. In what ways were the American victory at Midway and the Japanese triumph at Pearl Harbor alike?     

They were both alike because in Pearl Harbor, the Japanese bombed U.S.'s Pacific Fleet and then in Midway, the U.S. bombed the Japanese fleet and both scenarios were devastating.

2. Why was the Battle of Leyte Gulf so crucial to the Allies?     

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was crucial to the Allies because the Japanese threw their whole Navy into it so if the U.S. defeated them and won, which they did, they would destroy most of the Japanese Navy.

3. Why was Okinawa a significant island in the war in the Pacific?     

Okinawa was a significant island in the war in the Pacific because it was the last Island the U.S. conquered and it was the beginning of the end which is when the U.S. won. Also, it was one of the bloodiest and cost the most lives for Japan.

4. What was the Manhattan Project? And who was J. Robert Oppenheimer?       

The Manhattan Project was the building of the Atomic Bomb and the planning to drop two of them on Japan. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the scientist who developed the Atomic Bomb.

5. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?     

He was anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany because Stalin was set on splitting up Germany into four parts and he was an evil dictator that could do a lot of damage if he did not agree with Roosevelt.

6. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?       

The decisions that they made at the Yalta Conference were to split Germany up into four parts, Stalin agreed to help with the war against Japan, and he agreed to take part in an international conference which led to the beginning of the United Nations.

7. At the trials, many Nazis defended themselves by saying they were only following orders. What does this rationale tell you about the German military? Why was it important to negate this justification?  



It was important to negate this justification because every person is responsible for his/her own actions. People can influence those actions but it is still the persons responsibility for those actions. Also, the rationale tells us that the German military was heartless and listened to orders even if they were drastically horrible.