A Change in History? Looking back through American history there have been those “what if” moments. Moments where we sit there and think, what if that had never happened or if it happened at a different time? Would the world still be the same? Would American’s still have the freedom we have today? One will never know, we can only imagine what the world would have been like if a different course was taken. There are a few events in American history that I felt should have gone a little differently so I tried my best to write it all out. In the year 1867, secretary of state William H. Seward negotiated the purchasing of a state known today as Alaska from the country of Russia for a measly $7.2 million. Two years after America acquired …show more content…
During the early stages of WW2 Japan withdrew from the League of Nations and invaded China killing over 100,000 civilians. Do to Japans actions, the American government slowly began to cut them off from their assets and sent them a warning letter saying America wasn’t going to turn the other cheek if these actions were kept up. Japan decided to make no efforts in changing their military strategy so we fully cut Japan off from American supplies in 1941. Now its hard to say whether or not America made the correct decision when cutting off Japan during WW2, it created a lot of tension and anger towards America from the Japanese. Japan began to plan a surprise attack on one the U.S. Naval bases in Hawaii called Pearl Harbor. The attack occurred on a Sunday morning December 7, 1941. America lost 2,000 citizens and soldiers that day. The next day Franklin D. Roosevelt (America’s president at the time) announced Americas entry into WW2. I believe that if America had never cut Japan off from their assets then the anger and hostility would not have been there creating a reason for Japan to attack America and without the attack on Pearl Harbor, America would have no reason to enter the war during the year 1941. During the year 1941 president Franklin D. Roosevelt created a committee known as the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD). The OSRD was an amazing organization who impacted American history is multiple ways. The
In 1939 the U.S. began an embargo of aircraft and aircraft part against Japan (document c). In July 1941 the United States freezes all Japan assets and bank accounts (document c). Then came August 1941 when U.S imposed an embargo on oil shipment to Japan (document c). The United States had stopped all its trading with the necessities Japan needed. Japan had developed anger with each embargo U.S. had made which lead them to attack Pearl Harbor. In 1937 more than 70% if the oil Japan received was from U.S. (document d). In 1941 oil Japan had received from U.S. by degrees decreased to less than 40% (document d). 341 tons of oil dropped after America throughout time stopped trade with Japan (document d). This shows that the U.S. was trying to weaken Japan economy, so Japan responded by attacking Pearl
A year before the US placed the embargo of aircraft and aircraft parts against Japan, the US Pacific Fleet was in California but a year after we placed the embargo against Japan President Roosevelt ordered the fleet to be moved to Pearl Harbor as a show of American power (Doc C). When Japan seized southern French Indo-China in July of 1941, Roosevelt responded by freezing Japanese assets in the United States and ending sales of oil to Japan. Japan chose to continue its diplomatic talks with the United States while at the same time secretly preparing for a coordinated assault throughout the Pacific. Japan’s leaders hoped that a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor would destroy American resolve and cripple the American navy for at least six months, giving Japan time to consolidate its new empire
Since the the Louisiana purchase and during the 19th century, the United States would expand from what was the original Thirteen Colonies that seceded successfully from England, to include the entire continent from today’s Maine to California. Throughout this period, several expansionist accomplishments were made, including the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the Compromise of 1820, the Mexican secession, the Compromise of 1850, and lastly the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Each of these, however, and more, were met with numerous proponents as well as opponents to territorial expansion – each for different reasons. However, each and every debate for or against expansion eventually led the United States government’s actions, or lack thereof, and has shaped
This idea was initially mocked for its absurdity, despite Alaska's abundance of natural resources. Seward was successful in his endeavor to convince Congress to purchase the Alaska Territory stating that if the U.S. didn't purchase it then the Canadians would. There was also talk of bribery by the Russian government to push the vote through in favor of Seward. This decision was important because it gave the U.S. its 49th State as well as vast swaths of resource-rich land.
William H. Seward is the person responsible for obtaining Alaska from Russia. This happen in 1867 when America purchased Alaska from Russia for seven million dollars. Some Americans where happy to expand territory well others thought it was useless investment. Minds where changed about this purchase in a couple decades when people realized that Alaska was rich in natural resources, and a gold rush was sparked for a short period of time. Once the gold rush died down mining for other natural resources became popular and harvesting fishing. Finally in 1912 Alaska would be recognized as a U.S territory and would become known officially as a state forty seven years later in 1959.
It wasn’t a sudden decision of the Japanese army to bomb Pearl Harbor, it was a long series of events which led to Pearl Harbor bombing. In fact, in the years antecedent to 1941 there was a lot of tension between the two countries. There were several events which scattered the attack on Pearl Harbor which was then used by the American government as an alibi to declare war to Japan. Over the course of the 1930s, Japan's increasingly expansionist policies brought it into renewed conflict with its neighbors, Russia and China (1).
The Japanese concluded that our military would be too big and strong in a couple of years, so Japan decided to strike first and bombed Pearl Harbor. The Prime Minister and War Minister of Japan said “when I think about the strengthening of American defenses in the Southwest Pacific, the expansion of the American fleet,...I see no end to the difficulties...I fear that we would become a third-class nation after two or three years if we just sat tight.” Japan bombed Pearl Harbor because they believed if they waited too long, the U.S would be unstoppable.
Alaska was officially made a state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. Many people had forgotten the nickname Alaska once had as “Seward's Folly”; Finally, realizing the importance Alaska had on the United States. The Alaska purchase was proved to be the most important purchase ever transacted by the United States
On December 7, 1941 an “unexpected” attack altered the lives of many U.S. citizens located in Pearl Harbor. At first the attack was just a preventative measure from Japan to prevent the U.S. from interfering with the war Japan was planning to start with Southeast Asia. The aerial attack bombs resulted in the United States entry into World War II which had previously been going on for more than two years in Europe. The causes of the attack on Pearl Harbor can be justified by a number of reasons but the most evidential would be because of Japans imperialism. As Japan began to expand and invade China along with troops in French Indochina the United States gave japan the option to stop with their imperial ways or Japan would be cut off from all
The United States opposed the expansion of Japan in Asia, so they cut off important exports to Japan. On December 7,1941, Japanese Submarines and Carrier based planes, attacked the U.S pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour. The attack mark the entrance of the United States into the WWII on to Allied side, and Japan in the side of Germany and Italy. The use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is justified in that the war would have dragged on longer killing more civilians and military lives, and to showcase the strength of the United States in order to prevent future attacks.
“The Japanese plan was simple: Destroy the Pacific Fleet. That way, the Americans would not be able to fight back as Japan’s armed forces spread across the South Pacific. On December 7, after months of planning and practice, the Japanese launched their attack. In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor crippled or destroyed nearly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes. Dry docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. Most important, almost 2,500 men were killed and another 1,000 were wounded. On December 8, Congress approved Roosevelt’s declaration of war. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy declared war against the United States. For the second time, Congress reciprocated. More than two years after the start of the conflict, the United States had entered World War II” (History.com).
On March 30, 1867 Seward's Folly purchased the state of Alaska for 7.2 million dollars. The Treaty with Russia was negotiated and signed by Secretary of State William Seward and Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl. Many people though that this was a stupid purchase that would just put america into more debt. It took much time for Alaska to be purchased.Russia was the first to offer to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing the United States would offset the designs of Russia’s greatest rival in the Pacific, Great Britain. Even though many saw this purchase as a REALLY stupid mistake, but the truth of the matter is Seward was wiser than everybody realized. That 7 million dollars that he paid for alaska
On the day of October 18th, 1867, The United States takes formal possession of Alaska. The territory was purchased from Russia for 7.2 million dollars, which is less than two cents per acre. The purchased was championed by William Henry Seward, who served as President Andrew Johnson’s secretary at the time. Seward had negotiated the deal with the Russian Prime minister at the time, Eduard de Stoeckl. Russia had interests in selling the Alaskan territory, and decided that it was better to sell it, rather than lose it in a war. After the purchase had been final, it was named “Seward’s Folly.” Americans, at the time, believed that Alaska was a barren icy wasteland, so it was not the most popular of deals. It wasn’t until a year later, that Alaska Territory would be ratified. In 1896, Alaska had become more favorable, when the discovery of gold in its Klondike River had taken place. Alaska
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese dispatched an astonishment air assault on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After only two hours of bombarding, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 boats had either been sunk or harmed, and more than 188 U.S. airplane pulverized. The assault at Pearl Harbor so insulted Americans that the U.S. deserted its arrangement of nonintervention and proclaimed war on Japan the accompanying day - formally bringing the United States into World War II. The Japanese were sick of arrangements with the United States. They needed to proceed with their development inside Asia however the United States had put a greatly prohibitive ban on Japan in the trusts of controlling Japan 's hostility. Arrangements to explain their disparities hadn 't been going admirably. As opposed to offering into U.S. requests, the Japanese chose to dispatch an astonishment assault against the United States trying to pulverize the United States ' maritime power even before an authority declaration of war was given.
Imagine the world if the United States didn’t enter the second World War. The United States was able to control the Germans, so they weren’t able to take over all of Europe; a whole continent to themselves. The United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7th, 1944, because the United States cut off oil shipments to Japan so they would come to bargain. Instead of bargaining, the Japanese came to Pearl Harbor and proved that it was a mistake to cut off the oil supply. Another reason the United States joined the war was the Germans were sinking United States’ ships while taking supplies to England. They were even using unrestricted submarine warfare even though they promised not to do so in years prior.