America's Response to Pearl Harbor

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, at 7:55 AM the Japanese Empire led a surprise attack on the US Naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, that would leave millions of Americans in shock, and heartbroken. Before the attack, the United States kept a low profile on International affairs, and concentrated on the domestic affairs at hand. This tragic moment in American history forever remembered. It is a mournful day for the American people, although, for the Japanese Empire it was an honorable day, one they would call a

He cared deeply for his lost countrymen; "I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost." The president cared for those that had been lost, and felt as commander in chief, he had to do something to prevent a travesty such as this from happening again. "I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense." He wished for all Americans to see that they needed to avenge those who perished in the attack and to protect the country in the future. Roosevelt used his emotions to be empathetic to those who were grieving and call many Americans to

In The American Journey, David Goldfield et al. state that “Americans in the 1930s wanted no part of another overseas war by a wide margin.” Americans were still recovering for the ramifications of World War I and feared our intervention in any foreign conflict. In the fall of 1941, their reluctance was still abounding even though Germany achieved many victories abroad, the British were toiling to save their empire and Japan’s monumental aggression towards China escalated. In fact, Goldfield et al. noted that, “President Roosevelt’s challenge was to lead the United States toward rearmament and support for Great Britain and China without alarming the public.” Unfortunately, the aftermaths of World War I had set the tone for World War II since many small new nations in Europe felt the upper hand of Germany, Japan, Italy and the Soviet Union. Furthermore, the United States was not highly regarded by these nations, especially Japan, whose nationalists felt that they were unjustly treated after World War I. As much as the United States was trying to remain neutral and President Roosevelt wanted Americans to stay out of World War I, the inevitable came to fruition when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Goldfield et al. indicated that, “Speaking to Congress the following day, Roosevelt proclaimed December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.” He asked for and got a declaration of war against Japan. Hitler and Mussolini declared war on the United States

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and, on December 11th,  Germany declared war on the U.S. (A  big mistake by Hitler - otherwise, we might have concentrated on beating Japan first).  America was now in World War 2!  Americans were no longer isolationists - they were mad as hell and they were not going to take it!  Overseas, Churchill, despite the disaster, could not help but feel a great relief (actually he was ecstatic) that America was now in the

As not only President but Commander in Chief, Roosevelt had an obvious ethical appeal to the general public, and his advice concerning war involvement and interpretation of this event will forever depict most American’s view of the attack. Seeing as ethics aren’t in question here, it was not necessary for Roosevelt to spend much time proving himself trustworthy. However, he does show strength and courage in the midst of in a time of fear and dismay. He also plays on the values of Americans by

On December 7,1941 Japan raided the airbases across the islands of Pearl Harbour. The “sneak attack” targeted the United States Navy. It left 2400 army personnel dead and over a thousand Americans wounded. U.S. Navy termed it as “one of the great defining moments in history”1 President Roosevelt called it as “A Day of Infamy”. 2 As this attack shook the nation and the Japanese Americans became the immediate ‘focal point’. At that moment approximately 112,000 Persons of Japanese descent resided in coastal areas of Oregon, Washington and also in California and Arizona.3

On December 7, 1941 Japan stealthily attacked the U.S. Naval base located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii resulting in many casualties. This IMC plan will outline the objectives, strategies and tactics in order to promote awareness of the attacks as well as develop positive community involvement.

In 1941, the world was at war. In Europe, Britain and France were locked in a deadly struggle with the advancing Third Reich and losing ground, men, and materiel every day. In the pacific, no nation or army could stand in the way of the Empire of Japan as they ravaged and burned a path through until total domination was achieved. World War two was two years in the making with no end in sight. Even as allies Britain and France suffered, the United States hesitated joining the war, not wanting involvement in another European conflict. Not until December 7th, 1941 did the US become involved in this war for the world. On this day, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave the Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation utilizing diction, anaphora, and climax to declare war on the Empire of Japan, sympathize with the families who lost sons and husbands in the attacks, and to raise American spirit and morale as they were to enter a state of war.

Throughout the 1940’s race relations in the United States changed, some for the worse and others for the better. The Japanese, Mexican, German, Italian, and Chinese-Americans all saw differences in the way Americans treated them. On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese-American population in the United States had their entire lives and identities stripped away from them. That day, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which contained a large naval base. “The attack resulted in what many consider the worst defeat in U.S. military history…2,403 people were killed.”

The attack on Pearl Harbor changed America greatly. Before the war, Americans were not too afraid of it, believing that they were safe. They did not fear Hitler or the Japanese because they had two massive oceans separating them from the danger. However, after the attack “Fear swept across the country, but even more so there was a sense of patriotism that incited a desire to fight Japan. Though likely afraid of another sneak attack from the Pacific, Americans soon saw an outright war with Japan as inevitable” (LoProto). Hours after the attack “American attitudes about the war change radically, and everything was viewed through the prism of the war effort” (Morell). America quickly became willing to fight the enemies that had brought suffering

In the beginning of war, Japanese victory in Pacific terrified West Cost Americans. Partial victory for Americans appeared when Japanese capital Tokyo was bombed. It was less of a material loss but huge in terms of psychological attack. It was followed by the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 and after that the decisive Battle of Midway Island took place. U.S. aircraft carriers destroyed three out of four Japanese carriers that sabotaged their further plans of invasion and they adopted a defensive strategy.

One day after the attack on Pearl Harbor Franklin D Roosevelt addressed Congress.Three days later,Germany and Italy,Japanese’s allies, declared war on the United States.

Guadalcanal was the first American offensive of World War II. American efforts in the Pacific were heavily impeded by the “Europe First” strategy during World War II (Gray 317). President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill both saw Europe as being more important than Asia. Nazi Germany was viewed as the major threat to Western ideals. Neither the U.S. nor Europe feared a Japanese invasion. The American Army would send the majority of its forces into Europe. The U.S. Navy had some of its ships act as convoys to protect merchant ships, but most of the aircraft carriers were in the Pacific. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) was entirely

The United States of America had to prepare for war after the infamous event that happened on December 7th, 1941; The attack of Pearl Harbor. However, after avoiding war for so long, America was clinging to their isolationist ways, and they wanted to stay that way and not go into the world-wide conflict. But this couldn’t be avoided; they couldn’t allow what had happened to go unnoticed. They had to get revenge and much sure this never happens again. Preparation began a short while before the horrific event, but it went into effect one day later. America’s preparation began with the government scrambling to build their army and alliances. They started with authorizing the doubling of the size of the U.S. Navy, and then started creating alliances

Shortly before 8am on Sunday 7 December 1941 , the first of two waves of Japanese aircraft launched a devastating attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet, moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The raid, which came with no warning and no declaration of war, destroyed four battleships, leaving an additional 4 damaged in merely two hours. The attack destroyed 188 US aircraft, killed more than 2,400 Americans, and injured another 1,200 . Although remembered as “the day that will live in infamy”, the exact reason behind the attack on Pearl Harbor still remains unknown. Some believe that the Japanese were galvanized by Germany to attack the United States because of the assumption that the United States would be unable to concentrate all of its resources toward the fight with Japan. Germany desired assistance in the fight during World War II and, because of that, nearly guaranteed the United States’ defeat if Japan attacked. On the other side, it is believed that the Japanese prompted the Pacific war with the attack on Pearl Harbor in order to eliminate their primary competitor for resources in the Pacific and fulfill its destiny of creating a “greater East Asian co-prosperity sphere” .