Missouri with General MacArthur

Definition

USS Missouri is an American battleship where General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's formal surrender marking end of World War II on September 2, 1945.

Analogy

Imagine if at your school's championship game, after winning, instead of celebrating at home or at school, you went to your opponent’s field to accept your trophy. That’s kind of what it was like when General MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender aboard USS Missouri – it sent a powerful message about who had won.

Related terms

Douglas MacArthur: An American five-star general and Field Marshal who played a prominent role in Pacific theater during World War II.

V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day): The day marking Allied victory over Japan in World War II; celebrated on August 15th in UK and September 2nd in US.

Potsdam Declaration: A statement issued by Allies in July 1945 calling for the surrender of Japan in World War II.