Essay A Day Not Forgotten, the Attack on Pearl Harbor

Beginning of the year in 1941, FDR decided that the Pacific Fleet would move to Hawaii from San Diego in the hopes of discouraging the invasion of the Japanese. Negotiations between Washington and Tokyo had been going on for several months without a resolution. On July 2, 1941, the Imperial High Command was tired of negotiations with the United States and needed to proceed with their development within Asia even with the embargo in place and meaning it would be at a high risk of war with the US. [4] Therefore, the Japanese had deceived the United States, ignored the arbitration, and moved forward with their plans. The United States had hoped that this restrictive embargo would halt Japan’s assault as negotiations had continued well into November.

The main focus on this essay is “Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?”. On a normal Sunday morning when the American navy units were busy doing their normal routine work, the Japanese navy planned a surprise attack that stunned the world. This attack was so unpredictable that the entire American navy went in deep shock. Very few of them realized the need to manage and control their position to save the naval power. All the staff and ships that were present at the Pearl Harbor suffered massive loss. Just a couple of hours of bombing gave the Pearl Harbor, a battlefield view with fire and smoke emerging from every corner. The attack left American navy at a loss of 2400 of her best men as well as 21 ships that were either sunk or completely demolished.

To impose imperialistic goals and enhance nationalistic beliefs, the Japanese needed to significantly hinder the growth of the US economy, specifically, so that they could not enter into a Pacific war. Admiral Isoruko Yamamoto made it clear that they could not completely knock out America, because of their large economy. However, they believed that by attacking America’s main naval base, Pearl Harbour, they could prevent America’s entry into a Pacific war for 2 years. Therefore, this time would give the Japanese the opportunity to expand and occupy South East Asia without American intervention. The signing of the Tripartite Pact in September 1940, which allied Japan with Germany and Italy, provoked tension between the United States and Japan joined the Axis Powers. Negotiations in Washington were useless because of the almost diametrically opposite aims of the parties. Japan wanted America to abandon all support of the Chinese government and in return Japan would consider withdrawing from the Axis Pact. America distrusted the Japanese and wanted them to withdraw from Indochina and China. The Japanese were beginning to resent negotiations and believed that by the time America had recovered Japan would have acquired enough land and power that the US would accept a peace offer to avoid costly confrontation because by this time the navy would have established a defense perimeter of

There are many people involved with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. General Hideki Tojo was the imperial army’s head director. He was head of planning and executing the Pearl Harbor attacking. Another person involved with the attacking is Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. He was the head of the Imperial Navy and helped set-up the attacks for the pearl harbor bombing. Yamamoto lead his men from Japan to Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The President of The United States at the time was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt delivered the famous day of Infamy speech in Washington D.C. Roosevelt also declared war on Japan later on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was the product of Japanese anger at the United States and President Roosevelt should have taken immediate action to prevent it.

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy . . .” These famous lines were spoken the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave this speech to the U.S. Congress on December 8, 1941. Many criticized the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but the decision to attack America was wisely made. The Americans were going to enter the war sooner or later, and on the allies’ side. The attack on Pearl Harbor would hurt the United States’ strongest defense and kill many Americans. This was the first terrorist attack on the United States, by another country, which came as a total shock to many people.

December 7, 1941, was one of the worst attacks on the United States in U.S. history. Of that day 2,403 soldiers were killed in action, 1,178 were wounded in action. Numerous U.S. armed forces personnel were misjudged, which allowed the Japanese to carry out this terrible attack. Not only did the Japanese hit the U.S. where they knew it would hurt the most, but it crippled the United States’ entire Pacific Fleet.

During the Imperial Conference of December 1, 1941, Prime Minister Tojo announced that “The United States not only refused to make even one concession” but that “At the same time, the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and China increased their economic and military pressure against us” (87). This gave Japan no choice but to begin a war with the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands. Additionally, Foreign Minister Togo emphasized that Japan could not accept the proposal made by the U.S. because the conditions would hinder and put at risk the success of the Japanese Empire. In order for Japan to not only continue working towards establishing a New Order for East Asia, but to also maintain their position on an international level, war was the necessary step to take because if they continued to try to negotiate then they would most definitely have regressed.

The United States went to war to protect our land, its citizens and the economy. Roosevelt clearly said that not only was our livelihood at stake, but also our lives, and way of life. He pointed out we were at peace, and received a statement from Japan one hour after the attack, saying that they didn’t think the negotiations were going anywhere, but nothing was said in the message that was threatening.

"How secret is secret in a country where years of censorship have trained an inquisitive, alert population in the discreet whisper and the fine art of putting two and two together? And how secret is secret when one's ideas are no longer exclusively one's own?" (At Dawn We Slept, Prange 30) The tragic attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 has many events connected to it that lead people to believe that it was no surprise to the United States government. "The attack marked the entrance of Japan into World War II on the side of Germany and Italy, and the entrance of the United States on the allied side." (Microsoft Encyclopedia)

On December 7, 1941 the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japanese took place, but who was really responsible? Many historians lay the blame with President Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR), citing his approach to the war as antagonistic and inciting a Japanese attack. This report however will highlight that the Japanese were the real antagonises, deliberately and purposely attacking the United States (US), United Kingdom and Holland, and Pearl Harbour was but a pawn in their war plan, thus alleviating FDR of the historical responsibility bequeathed to him over the last 70 years. The key elements within this review focus on Japan's Pacific War plans, FDR's

In July 1940, the U.S. placed an embargo on Japan, hoping they would restrain Japan 's military aggression in China. Japan, a proud nation, would not hear of being dictated to by the United States and began to prepare for the attack on Pearl Harbor in early 1941. Meanwhile, there was some warning of the attack on America, but it went without being duly acknowledged. The day before the attack occurred, a code-breaker intercepted a message from the Japanese concerning the movement of ships at Pearl Harbor. The operator relayed the message to the superior officers who said they would get back to the radioman on Monday, December 8, 1941 (Socolow 43). Also, on the morning of the attack, a radar operator saw a large group of airplanes on the radar screen, and when he reported this, the senior officer said it was probably just some US Bombers and not to worry about them (HistoryNet.Com). The Japanese planes flew under the radar by flying through a pass in the mountains called Kolekole Pass. This maneuver added to the surprise of the attack. The frantic attack began on Sunday at 7:55 in the morning. A little before ten the entire attack was over (Pearl Harbor, Attack On). The men of Pearl Harbor fought with valor.

In the early hours of December 7th 1941, The Combined Fleet of Imperial Japanese Navy launched a preemptive military strike on the United States of America. Their target, the U.S Pacific Fleet and its headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii .Their objective to launch a lighting preventative assault on the United States, cripplingly the U.S’s ability to take part in World War Two and contribute to the Allied War effort. The Attack caught the Pacific Fleet completely by surprise, U.S forces only becoming aware of the Japanese presence as they came under fire from waves of Japanese Aircraft and Ships. Inflicting extensive damage, sinking and damaging over a dozen U.S capital ships and hundreds of Aircraft, damaging even more and killing and maiming almost four thousand U.S serviceman at the cost of only Sixty-four Japanese casualties and one captured. Well successful in a tactical sense the attack was considered by many including multiple top level officers in the Japanese military officers as a strategic blunder if not an outright calamity, as the attack causing the previously neutral U.S to enter World War Two on the side of the Allies and lend them its substantial military and industrial might, tipping the odds firmly in the favor of the Allied forces.

World War II, along with its numerous battles, brought great tension between two of the strongest countries during the 1940s: the United States and Japan. Conflict between these two countries started with Japan’s push past Chinese borders into Manchuria in search of the natural resources Japan lacks. At first, the United States avoided military action with Japan by waging economic warfare on them. This economic pressure included the passing of the Neutrality Act, which prohibited the sale of weapons to nations at war (Nash 513). Additionally, the United States placed oil embargoes on Japan hoping it would force Japan to shut down military operations in China. Japan, at a critical decision point, decided to bomb the American naval base

December 7, 1941, Japan performed a surprise attack on America at Pearl Harbor. "According to Japanese feudal code of honor, the idea of a surprise is recommended and it raises no moral problems" (Sulzberger 146). During Japan's attack, they broke the seal of trust. "Japan's Ambassador and Diplomatic agent were in Washington pretending to have been seeking a negotiated settlement between the two countries" (Sulzberger 146). America lost over 3,000 service men from this bombing. This type of betrayal could only cause anger and determination to strike back.