Actual+History

===After much thought __President Roosevelt__ decided to ask congress to DECLARE WAR on Japan. He came to this because the United States was " suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." The American public wanted to stay out of the war, but after Japan's attack he had no choice. America had been punched in the face and we were not about to go down without a fight. Twenty Years of neglect and Indifference, however, could not be overcome in a few days( A brief history of WWII). Three days later Germany and Italy responded to our declaration of War, by declaring war on the United States. Congress Immediately returned the favor and declared war on the both of them. This thrusted the United Stated into the horrible and gruesome event that was World War II.=== ===Overnight, the United States went from a divided country to united fighting force rallying behind ONE CAUSE, "REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR". By attacking Pearl Harbor the Japanese woke the "Sleeping Beast" that was the United States The war did not start well for the United States, in early 1942, helpless American garrisons fell to the Japanese in the pacific. It seemed like the United States just didn't have the man power to be victorious. 37 army divisions were in some state of training but only one was battle ready by january 1942 (A brief history of WWII). The United States had no time to delay though they had to gear up, and be ready to fight a war in two theatres one in Europe and the other in the Pacific.=== ===The war got off to a rough start for the American troops, they were decisivly beaten in the Phillapeans. The thousands of american POW were forced to march,and many died. This gruesome event was called the Bataan death march, and was a major rallying point for the Us soldiers. (Japan on the Offensive) The United States finally broke through with two major victory's in the pacific. The first was the battle of the Coral Sea which happened in early may. Even though the US lost more ships and men it was a strategic victory for them. This was the first time that the seemingly unstoppable expansion of the imperial forces of Japan, had been turned back. Another devastating blow===

[[image:http://www.janesoceania.com/oceania_coral_sea/maplge.jpg width="411" height="372" align="right" caption="Battle of Coral Sea "]]
===to the Japanese was handed to them at the BATTLE OF MIDWAY. The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the pacific campaign in World War II. The United States came out of the battle with a decisive victory; US aircraft severely cripled the Japanese imperial fleet. Only=== ===one US aircraft carrier was destroyed where as the imperial fleet lost four of there's. Shorly there after the United States launched the Guadalacanal campaign coupled with the new gueinea campaign. These two agressive manuevers eventually broke Japan's defenses in the South Pacific which was a major contributing factor to Japan's defeat in World War II. (what happened in the months after pearl harbor).=== ===The troops in Europe faced much different circumstances. US TROOPS ARRIVED IN BRITAIN IN JANUARY OF 1942 but did not see any action untill nearly a year later. The only way to attack Germay was through risky airades, were crews had to survive the deadly Luftwaffe and German anti-aircraft guns. Then DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER was named supreme commander of the Allied Forces in the European theatre. The Allies invaded Africa and then later Italy, the invasion was at first successful but then was slowed to a crawl by the Axis Powers. Then came D-DAY, the Allied Forces decided to invade German controlled france through Normandy on June 6, 1944 in order to get a foothold in Europe. Though many lifes were lost the Allies achived victory and began pushing towards Germany through France.===

===**After another year of rough fighting the allied forces had finally taken over Berlin at the Battle of Berlin. Hitler as well comited suicide in his bunker. Unfortanetly __PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT__ DIED before he could see the end of Hitler third reich, and Harry Truman was sworn in. Finally, On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany unconditionally surendered this day is known as VE-DAY (victory over europe). Celebrations broke out all across europe, but the war was not yet over for the americans. The end was in site but the still had to deal with the Japanese in the pacific. Allied commanders worked feverishly to devise a plan to invade the Japanese homeland, but Pressident Truman had an ace up his sleve; the ATOMIC BOMB. He decided to use it and on August 6, 1945 "little boy' was dropped on Hiroshima and three days later "fat man" was dropped on Nagasaki. These dentinated with devastating destruction. In the end roughly 200,000 men, women, and children were killed. Though reluctant the Japanese finally accepted surrender on september 2nd which is known as VJ-Day. Thus WWII was over. (A brief history of WWII)**=== ===**Tensions though increased between the USSR and America and the COLD WAR was on. Though there was no official conflict, tensions between the two superpowers did lead to several different wars. FINALLY IN THE 90'S THE COLD WAR ENDED, and the US for the first time in a while was at peace. It would not last long though. (own personal knowledge)Alternate History**===