Final answer:
The Battle of Coral Sea was a strategic victory for the Allies, preventing Japanese advancement to Australia, while the Battle of Midway was a decisive victory for the United States, critically damaging Japanese naval power and marking a significant turning point in the Pacific War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Outcomes of the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway
The outcomes of the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 and the Battle of Midway in June 1942 were pivotal in halting Japanese aggression during World War II. At the Battle of Coral Sea, the U.S. Navy successfully repelled a Japanese invasion force that threatened Australia, marking the first significant check on Japanese expansion in the Pacific. However, it must be noted that while the battle was a strategic win for the Allies in preventing the Japanese from reaching Australia, it was to some extent inconclusive in terms of losses on both sides.
The Battle of Midway was a significant victory for the United States; it resulted in the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers, which were vital to their naval power. This defeat was Japan's first major naval loss since the nineteenth century, dramatically shifting the balance of power in favor of the Allies and marking a turning point in the Pacific War. The Japanese navy lost much of its offensive capability and could not recover from the loss of carriers, planes, and experienced pilots as they lacked the industrial capacity to rebuild their fleet—unlike the United States, which was producing ships at a remarkable rate.
After these battles, American forces employed a strategy of 'island hopping' across the Pacific, taking one island after another from the Japanese and moving steadily closer to Japan itself. Hence, the correct answer to the student's question is that the Battle of Coral Sea stemmed the Japanese advance, and the Battle of Midway dealt a severe blow to the Japanese naval capacity, ultimately leading to the Allies regaining momentum in the Pacific Theater.