The short-term causes of WW2 in Asia and the Pacific Flashcards
Short-term causes of WW2 in the Pacific
- The USA challenges Japan
- Japan plans to attack the USA
- Japan attacks, starting WW2 in Asia & the Pacific
Why did the USA place trade embargoes on Japan and what was the aim of this?
- The USA was increasingly concerned with Japan’s growing empire. The Americans did not want to see further Japanese expansion that would endanger their territories throughout the region, such as the Philippines, which had US naval and army bases, as well as airfields.
- The aim was to weaken the Japanese army.
What steps did the USA take to challenge Japan?
- US President Franklin D. Roosevelt was limited by Neutrality Acts that prevented American intervention in wars unless it was itself directly attacked, but these were repealed in March 1941.
- They were replaced by the Lend–Lease programme that allowed the USA to openly sell military goods to nations that were at war with Germany, Italy or Japan.
- US oil exports to Japan were also banned. This was an especially damaging blow to Japan, as its military and industry were almost entirely dependent on US oil.
What was Japan’s response to the tough US sanctions on oil
- Given these tough US sanctions, Japan calculated that it would have only two years of oil reserves for its military operations left.
- The Japanese decided to try to take control of the oilfields in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) to guarantee a permanent supply.
Why did Japan decide to take control of oilfields in teh Dutch East-Indies?
- This was a strategy that the Japanese knew the USA would resist, as the US-controlled Philippines were located on the route between Japan and the Dutch East Indies.
- Therefore, Japan prepared pre-emptive strikes on strategic US positions in the Pacific.
What were Japan’s expectations in carrying out pre-emptive strikes on strategic US positions in the Pacific?
The Japanese military though that if its attacks were on a large enough scale, the USA would not have the desire, or the capacity, to strike back.
Describe Japan’s plans for attack on oilfields
- Assault many of the major US-held territories in the region. These included the Hawaiian Islands, which held a major US naval base and multiple airfields at Pearl Harbor, where its Pacific fleet of warships was stationed. Guam and the Wake Islands, which held US airbases, were also to be attacked.
- Attack and conquer British territories, such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
- Launch these attacks simultaneously to prevent a quick US counterattack.
- Invade the Dutch East Indies and take the oilfields.
- Fortify their defenses in the Dutch East Indies so that if the USA did decide to retaliate, which the Japanese military calculated would take about a year, as they had to rebuild their naval fleet, Japan would be ready.
When did Japan the military installations of the USA, Britain, and other nations throughout the Asia-Pacific region (Pearl Harbor)?
On the 7th December 1941
Why was the assault on Pearl Harbor devastating?
- Damaged four battleships and sank four others
- Damaged or sank three cruisers, three destroyers, and two other naval vessels
- Destroyed 188 aircraft
- Killed over 2400 people and injured 1200 others.
What was Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor a culmination of?
Japanese foreign policy that began in the late nineteenth century
How was the US’s reaction to Pearl Harbor different that Japan had hoped?
The USA did not back down as Japan had hoped, but in fact declared war on Japan a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, starting the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific.
