1. What factors have affected viewpoints on Truman's decision?
The Allied ships had to kill or capture every one of the 100,000 Japanese soldiers defending Okinawa-none of them would surrender. Allied ships have also been badly damaged by Japanese kamikaze suicide bombers. The Allies were a little stuck and needed to do something that would scare the Japanese off. Truman had a few decisions, to drop the bomb or not and if he should warn the Japanese. Some people agree with Truman's decision because many people had a vengeance against the Japanese. Also when Hirohito surrendered after the bombing of Nagasaki, it proved that it was the right decision. Others didn't agree with Truman's decision because they thought that the bomb served no military purpose and was because, as an anti-communists, Truman wanted to scare the Soviet Union.
2. Do you think he made the right decision? Give your reasons.
I think that Truman made the right decision on Japan. They just let Truman in on the plans as soon as he became president, and it seems as though he had to do something quick about Japan, so i guess dropping an atomic bomb on them is a pretty quick problem solver. The bomb was also a good way to scare Japan, and/or others, away from wanting to fight in war. For example, Japanese military were determined to fight till the finish, but after Truman bombed Nagasaki, Hirohito's will prevailed and Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945.
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
War in the Pacific
Read Chapter 25-3 (pg 784)
1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?
The Battle of Midway was a turning point for the Pacific War. By the end of the Battle of Midway, the Japanese had lost 4 aircraft carriers, a cruiser, and 250 planes and soon the allies began "island hopping".
2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
It was critical to the U.S. as a base from which heavily loaded bombers might reach Japan.
4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?
Because Churchill predicted that the cost would be a million American lives and half that number of British lives and by the end of the battle 7,600 Americans had died which was a taste of the real thing, when they actually invade Japan.
5. What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was the atomic bomb.
6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
It was his only way to avoid an invasion of Japan.
1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?
The Battle of Midway was a turning point for the Pacific War. By the end of the Battle of Midway, the Japanese had lost 4 aircraft carriers, a cruiser, and 250 planes and soon the allies began "island hopping".
2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
It was critical to the U.S. as a base from which heavily loaded bombers might reach Japan.
4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?
Because Churchill predicted that the cost would be a million American lives and half that number of British lives and by the end of the battle 7,600 Americans had died which was a taste of the real thing, when they actually invade Japan.
5. What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was the atomic bomb.
6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
It was his only way to avoid an invasion of Japan.
Monday, March 1, 2010
America Moves Toward War
Read Chapter 24-4 in your history textbook and answer the following questions. (pg 756)
1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
It allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own ships, which was the "cash and carry".
2. Who were the Axis powers?
The Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan.
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The president would lend or lease arms and any other supplies to "any country whose defense was vital to the United States."
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
Collective security,disarmament,self-determination,economic cooperation,and freedom of the seas.
5. Who were the Allies?
The allies were the nations who had fought the Axis powers.
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.s. Pacific fleet?
It sunk or damaged nearly the whole U.S. Pacific fleet.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
The U.S. declared war on Japan.
1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
It allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own ships, which was the "cash and carry".
2. Who were the Axis powers?
The Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan.
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The president would lend or lease arms and any other supplies to "any country whose defense was vital to the United States."
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
Collective security,disarmament,self-determination,economic cooperation,and freedom of the seas.
5. Who were the Allies?
The allies were the nations who had fought the Axis powers.
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.s. Pacific fleet?
It sunk or damaged nearly the whole U.S. Pacific fleet.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
The U.S. declared war on Japan.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)
Read pages 13-26 in U.S. Isolationism - Part II and answer the following questions.
1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
The American public felt as though they should isolate itself from all further war and foreign policy. Isolationism is a misleading term because most supporters favored international trade and certain bilateral agreements in the 1930s and also respected the international laws that had been put in place since World War I.
2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
To investigate the reasons why the U.S. had entered World War I.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
American soldiers had died in WWI because corporations looking to turn a profit had convinced President Wilson in 1917 to go to war.
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
They worried about an intrusive government and an overly powerful presidency.
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
The American public felt as though they should isolate itself from all further war and foreign policy. Isolationism is a misleading term because most supporters favored international trade and certain bilateral agreements in the 1930s and also respected the international laws that had been put in place since World War I.
2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
To investigate the reasons why the U.S. had entered World War I.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
American soldiers had died in WWI because corporations looking to turn a profit had convinced President Wilson in 1917 to go to war.
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
They worried about an intrusive government and an overly powerful presidency.
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
World Events Set Stage for Isolationism
1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
They didn't want to take part in the principles of the international cooperation espoused by Wilson and the League. And turned away from the West and towards a more nationalists stance.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
They decided to open themselves up to the world. They improved their navy, army and constitution, and banking system. They also defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and then declared war on Germany. Japan wanted to take over the U.S. islands, for example, Hawaii.
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
Japan's growth as a naval power in the Pacific threatened the U.S. interests. The nine nations agreed to open trade with China, limit the size of naval ships, placed a moratorium on building new battleships, outlawed the use of poison gas, and limited the role of submarines in future wars.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
Americans wanted to avoid being dragged into another European war and policy-makers continued to resist the obligations of permanent alliances and wished to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
He would enact new laws without approval of the president or parliament, they are controlling all aspects of German society, and when the president died he called himself the president.
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
To obtain raw materials and increase their power.
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accompllish?
Historians think that the Japanese bombed their own railway so that they could blame it on China and invade the country in both situations. They set up a puppet government.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
The size of their military decreased drastically since WWI
9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and
socialism. (pg. 8)
They all agree with one another
They didn't want to take part in the principles of the international cooperation espoused by Wilson and the League. And turned away from the West and towards a more nationalists stance.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
They decided to open themselves up to the world. They improved their navy, army and constitution, and banking system. They also defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and then declared war on Germany. Japan wanted to take over the U.S. islands, for example, Hawaii.
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
Japan's growth as a naval power in the Pacific threatened the U.S. interests. The nine nations agreed to open trade with China, limit the size of naval ships, placed a moratorium on building new battleships, outlawed the use of poison gas, and limited the role of submarines in future wars.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
Americans wanted to avoid being dragged into another European war and policy-makers continued to resist the obligations of permanent alliances and wished to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
He would enact new laws without approval of the president or parliament, they are controlling all aspects of German society, and when the president died he called himself the president.
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
To obtain raw materials and increase their power.
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accompllish?
Historians think that the Japanese bombed their own railway so that they could blame it on China and invade the country in both situations. They set up a puppet government.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
The size of their military decreased drastically since WWI
9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and
socialism. (pg. 8)
They all agree with one another
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