The Empire of Japan bombed the US naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, opening the Pacific theater of the war. The United States joined World War II the next day, and soon engaged Japanese forces in battle. In August 1945, US forces dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. The empire surrendered soon after, bringing World War II to an end. This title covers the major battles in the Pacific and explores the making and effects of the atomic bomb. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional resources, and an index.