declare war on japan
You declare war on Japan. You have decided that because Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor, they have committed an affront to the United States and prevented any immediate action on your part. Almost immediately after the Japanese war is declared, Germany declares war on you, and you return the favor to them (World War II in the Pacific). Germany’s action is seen as an excuse to enter the European war, and there is a widespread cry for revenge against Japan. However, you pursue a “Germany First” agenda. This is justified by fears that Germany may develop weapons of mass destruction (Wartime Strategy).
You are faced with a war on two fronts: Germany on one hand, Japan on the other. In the Pacific, due to your naval incapacitation at Pearl Harbor, you suffer a long period of Japanese defeat. They take Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines, as well as Hong Kong, the Dutch East Indies, and Singapore. The turning point comes when your air power wins at the Battle of Midway, destroying the dangerous possibility of a Japanese launching point for an attack on Hawaii (World War II in the Pacific). Without this, Hawaii could have been captured by the Japanese and their offensive capability could have skyrocketed.
Your victory means that the United States can go on the offensive, driving Japanese warships into a defending position (War in the Pacific). Bombing runs to decimate the resolve of the Japanese people were unsuccessful.
Back in the United States, a bomb has been completed. It is a weapon of mass destruction, equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT. Because of a desire to punish the Japanese and prevent the loss of American life, a decision is made to drop this bomb on Japan to force a surrender (Atomic Bomb). After two such bomb drops, the Japanese surrenders after upwards of 90,000 deaths are caused by the atomic bomb (Japan Surrenders).
This demonstration of nuclear superiority plunges the two emerging superpowers, Russia and the United States, into the Cold War. An Iron Curtain descends between the Eastern and Western halves of the world (Churchill Delivers Iron Curtain Speech). This war of ideologies lasts until 1991. A state of mutually assured destruction was in place due to both nations’ control of nuclear warheads and weapons (Cold War). It was a silent conflict that was to have worldwide consequences.
You are faced with a war on two fronts: Germany on one hand, Japan on the other. In the Pacific, due to your naval incapacitation at Pearl Harbor, you suffer a long period of Japanese defeat. They take Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines, as well as Hong Kong, the Dutch East Indies, and Singapore. The turning point comes when your air power wins at the Battle of Midway, destroying the dangerous possibility of a Japanese launching point for an attack on Hawaii (World War II in the Pacific). Without this, Hawaii could have been captured by the Japanese and their offensive capability could have skyrocketed.
Your victory means that the United States can go on the offensive, driving Japanese warships into a defending position (War in the Pacific). Bombing runs to decimate the resolve of the Japanese people were unsuccessful.
Back in the United States, a bomb has been completed. It is a weapon of mass destruction, equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT. Because of a desire to punish the Japanese and prevent the loss of American life, a decision is made to drop this bomb on Japan to force a surrender (Atomic Bomb). After two such bomb drops, the Japanese surrenders after upwards of 90,000 deaths are caused by the atomic bomb (Japan Surrenders).
This demonstration of nuclear superiority plunges the two emerging superpowers, Russia and the United States, into the Cold War. An Iron Curtain descends between the Eastern and Western halves of the world (Churchill Delivers Iron Curtain Speech). This war of ideologies lasts until 1991. A state of mutually assured destruction was in place due to both nations’ control of nuclear warheads and weapons (Cold War). It was a silent conflict that was to have worldwide consequences.