American History : Pearl Harbor

Introduction. I chose this battle because I had been hearing about the attack on Pearl Harbor, but I did not know much about it. This paper talks about the countries that fought in this battle, where the battle was fought, what the geography was like during the battle, what the weather was like, what happened during this battle, how many casualties occurred, other things I learned about the battle, who won the battle, and how the battle was important to WWII.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his war speech and asserted December 7, 1941 as, “a date which will live in infamy.” The United States’ naval bases stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii were struck by Japanese planes intentionally and promptly. The news of this attack on the Pearl Harbor shocked the world. It was devastating to the nation that were still in the throes of depression. Witnesses of this event painted a portrait of a nation stunned, but determined to rise again. The United States’ government had not disclosed a Pearl Harbor story to the public--that the U.S. had failed to act on advance information about a planned Japanese attack. Japan 's move against the United States was audacious enough to be considered no more than a slight possibility, although the potential for an attack had been widely discussed.

On December 7, 1941 -- the day that will always be commemorated as “the date which will live in infamy” by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the United States’ naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This crippling attack caused many American casualties, and American citizens quickly became filled with fury and abhorrence; the detestation that swallowed the hearts of the American citizens was shown through President Roosevelt’s expeditious appeal to Congress to declare war against Japan. The attack on Pearl Harbor was an unforgettable day in history and directly affected the United States involvement in World War Two and the patriotism of the United States’ citizens.

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the U.S. stepped foot into the territory of the most destructive war throughout the entire course of history. On this particular day, Japan sent 361 planes launched from six aircraft carriers and bombed Pearl Harbor, a naval base located in Hawaii. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the first stage that led us into the war. Many believe that this day was considered to be among the most darkest days of American history, but was the real reason behind the attack? The reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is because of the embargoes we imposed on Japan, racial superiority, and the fear of the U.S.’s actions.

On December 7th, 1941, Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor. They demolished the entire United States Pacific Fleet. At the time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the thirty-second president of the United States. He was in his third term when the devastating attack began. The attacked took place at the U.S. Naval Base in Oahu, Hawaii. The air attack started at 7:48 in the morning, Hawaiian time. There were about 3,500 casualties from the bombing, and more than 2,300 of them were deaths. The attack beached or sank 12 American battleships, and nine others were severely damaged. A total of 160 aircraft were demolished and 150 were damaged (“The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor”). Japan was planned to wipe out the Philippines, the East Indies, Malaya, and Burma. Their only concern was with the U.S. Pacific Fleet, they were afraid the U.S. would ruin their plans (“The Attack on Pearl Harbor”). In the address, Roosevelt asked Congress to have the United States enter World War II. The vote was unanimous, except for a Montana pacifist whose vote differed from the rest of the House (“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”). All over the country, radio stations were interrupting broadcasts to deliver the news about the bombing. After the attack, most people knew that America was going to enter World War II long before the president gave his speech. Entering the war affected the country greatly, like taking America out of the Great Depression. Men were drafted to fight so there were many more

On the morning of December 7th, 1941, the Imperial Japanese navy conducted a surprise military strike against the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack led to the United States entry into World War II. The attack was an attempt to keep the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions of the Empire of Japan. Pearl Harbor was a major turning point in World War II and American History that led to major technological advances throughout the war as well as high tension between Americans and Japanese for years to come.

The attack on Pearl Harbor, this caused many people to be afraid and angry of the Japanese, American or foreign. This escalated so quickly that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1941(Timeline 6). The Executive Order declared that all people of Japanese ancestry were to be sent to internment camps away from the west coast( Timeline 6). The West coast had many military bases, and other places important to the war effort(Newsreel). With this information it can be can concluded that placing the Japanese people in the internment camps was unjustified. The internment of the Japanese was unjustified because The Germans and Italians were not sent to the internment camps as well, most of the Japanese people didn’t have a job that would allow them to sabotage the United States and the decision was not based on military conditions like it was said to.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor has remained a significant event in United States history. On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched an attack on the US naval base in Oahu, Hawaii. It specifically targeted military objectives and the US Pacific Fleet. The results following the two hour and fifteen minute raid destroyed 177 planes, sunk or damages eighteen ships, and left nearly 4,000 Americans dead. This attack on US soil spiked extreme patriotism throughout the nation and directly lead Americans into World War II. Since then, Pearl Harbor has been portrayed as a surprise attack on an unsuspecting country. However, American hands are not completely clean in this matter. Although it may have been a surprise to those in Hawaii, this was not the case in Washington. Information regarding the knowledge of an attack on Pearl Harbor was in fact intentionally withheld from American commanders. Through President Roosevelt’s desire to join the war, and the lack of communication between Washington and Hawaii, Pearl Harbor came to be one of the most tragic events in United States history.

America has learned from and been shaped by many different experiences of good and bad in this country. The Pearl Harbor attack was one major eye opening event that America had to face. It involved heartbreaking deaths of those who served our country along with civilians who were on the island as well. It was was an unexpected attack with no time to prepare. On December 7, 1941 tragedy struck the beautiful island of Honolulu, Hawaii when the Japanese started their attack on America.

December 7th, 1941 will forever be remembered. The day after this attack President Roosevelt gave a speech to congress (Roosevelt, 1941). December 7th is the day that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and forever changed the course of the war. While the United States had many reasons to enter the war, the attack on Pearl Harbor was what finally drew them into the war. The Japanese thought attacking Pearl Harbor would cripple the United States ability to produce ships to support allied countries, and cripple the United States military. The United States had remained neutral up until this point. This atrocious attack was what finally brought the United States into World War II.

Bombs exploding, sirens blaring this is what the man of Pearl harbor heard on the morning of the attack. Pearl Harbor and how it is one of the most deadliest and important attacks on the United states.Pearl Harbor had many causes and left many behind destruction, but in the destruction there was a few things that survived. December 7, 1941 “A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY” this iconic quote was said by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the attack.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”- Franklin D. Roosevelt. On December 7th, 1941 Japanese forces performed an air raid on the naval base Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of the most devastating attacks on American soil. 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes destroyed. Dry docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. Most important, 2,403 sailors, soldiers and civilians were killed and about 1,000 people were wounded (“Pearl Harbor”). This strike shocked America and changed our mood about the war. We wanted retaliation, we wanted to hurt them back, we wanted war! After two years of standing by

In the months leading up to Pearl Harbor, the impending threat that the territory of Hawaii perceived from the Japanese was imminent. Being isolated from the mainland, Hawaiian government officials and the United States military knew that there would be many struggles in the event such a catastrophe occur. The decision to declare martial law in the hours following the attack on that December morning was not an easy one, but it was most definitely the right one.

The attack on Pearl Harbor changed the lives of Americans all over the country. To help make supplies for war, women had to get jobs as welders and electricians in defense plants. People used their radios to get reports on the fighting overseas(The U.S.). Most Americans first heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor through the radio. A radio station in Pittsburgh provided an eyewitness account. "We have witnessed this morning the attack of Pearl Harbor and a severe bombing of Pearl Harbor by army planes, undoubtedly Japanese" (Reinhardt). Footage of the Pearl Harbor attack was not released by the government for a year after the attack. In 1943 officials reversed course based on fears of waning civilian morale and allowed the release of films that showed the real terrors of war. Their hope was to shock Americans into strengthening their commitment to the war effort(Tuttle).

Japan took the attack very seriously. They did not think of the attack as foolish at all. Since the U.S embargo blocked Japan from getting their crucial goods, Japan decided that a way to respond was to attack their naval base. The Japanese government believed the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbors territory and take over its import market. To this end: Japan declared war on China and in 1937. Japan flew 3,400 miles across the Pacific ocean just to execute their attack on Pearl Harbor.