Pearl Harbor Dbq Analysis

Many blameless people were attacked in Pearl Harbor on 1941. The Japanese sent submarines and planes to attack the United States. This announced the beginning of World World Two. Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 1941 by the Japanese in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor was attacked during the beginning of World War Two. Japan created a conflict with America at Pearl Harbor due to Embargos, Immigration Quota, and the Expansion of American Navy. The evidence proven states the reasons why Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The three reasons why the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor were for a new plan for a new world order, US oil embargo, and US fleet expansion.

The trade embargo by US had caused an uproar in Japan, and this led into the question, “To what extent was the trade embargo by the USA responsible for Japanese military actions in 1941?” Some historians claimed that the trade embargo had forced Japan to use their military to attack Pearl Harbor, but why? The embargo appointed Japan to felt threatened to performed their ideology, situated Japan in an untenable position since they’re intensely relied on US imports, and produced a panicking atmosphere for their country’s survival. Japan viewed the embargo as a threat to achieved their ideology. Japan in the 19th century had strived for nationalism and embarked on modernization, which caused them to acquired an aggressive expansion plan, starting

After the world war I allied countries had signed the treaty of Versailles. Japan had felt left out because it wanted to include a part about racial equality. They felt that they weren't being treated equally. So Japan had started to take control and conquer land in southeast Asian countries. They wanted to spread their rule and race. The U.S. didn’t agree with Japan’s action and over the years tension has developed between the two countries. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor because of their nationalist mindset, America’s embargo of oil, and the fear of being attacked by the United States because of its growth.

When the bombing of pearl harbor took place, many people thought the United states remained neutral in WWII prior to this devastating event. Cartoons were being drawn of the U.S showing no aid or support to our allies such as the cartoon in document 3. The United States remained politically neutral in WWII prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, however the U.S. was preparing for war behind closed doors.

“An old order . . . is now crumbling” (Doc A). This quote was taken from the Japanese novel The Way of the Subjects. It proves how aggressive and serious Japan was about creating a new rule in the world. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor was an American naval base. 361 Japanese planes launched from six carriers to deliver the surprise attack. Japan attacked the naval base for three main reasons: a plan for a new world order, the United States oil embargo against them, and the United States naval fleet expansion.

In the present, Japan is a military and economic superpower with strong influence. However, it was not always like this. In the early 1700s, Japan isolated itself from the world and greeted foreigners unfortunate enough to shipwreck in Japan with hostility. In the 1850s, the United States attempted to make contact with Japan to establish a treaty. The U.S. knew even though Japan was hostile, it was weak compared to a western power. Although the U.S. was stronger than Japan, it was nowhere close to being as strong as other western powers such as Brittan or France and was struggling to keep up. Japanese hostility, U.S. power struggles, and Japan’s isolation all led to the inevitable Japanese and U.S. conflict.

Japan believed they were the fountain of the Yamato race and believed they were superior to any other asian race (Document A). Japan also thought that America would crumble and become “Old Orders” (Document A). Japan's expansion into Asia caused them to go after the bigger countries.

This stated in document D and when it says that 80% of Japan's oil came from America. This is important to notice because Japan is especially in need of oil since they are in a middle of a war and they need fuel for all their ships and aircraft. Also, including in the embargo, Japan didn't have any steel or scrap iron coming from America. This created even more tension between the two countries. America didn't like Japan's side during World War II because they supported Hitler, so they stopped all exports. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because America was interfering with their fighting in the

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Roosevelt made the decision to relocate more than 100,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans from their homes on the West Coast to camps around the country. The bombing of Pearl Harbor resulting in the death of 2,500 people and sharpened resentment towards Japanese Americans. The sense of panic people felt became racialized. As president, that person is the backbone of the country. When the backbone of the country gives way to popular opinion it sets a bad example for the rest of the world to see.

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.

What did all of this have to do with the U.S.? Well, because the U.S. had ties with East Asia, politically and economically, the decisions Japan were making were also affecting the U.S. So, America took it upon itself to increase military and financial aid to China. The reason this decision was made was to cut off oil shipments and raw materials to Japan. This is what really angered the Japanese.

“December 7th, 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” (Roosevelt). Japan surprise attacked the Hawaiian naval base, Pearl Harbor, approximately at 7:55 am. The intent of the Japanese strike was to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with plans to seize overseas territories belonging to United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States.

Japan and the United States had different kinds of relations that could have lead Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor.The United States military and Japan’s relationship seemed to get worse after Japan sank the USS Panay even though Japan apologized for sinking the ship. Japan became aware of the 19th and 20th century that there was threats from the different nations influence became very loyal. During 1939 - 1945 the United States, for the second time, applied domestic penalties to Japan and sends to Europe military supplies because Germany, Italy, and Japan made the Anti Comintern Pact. Japan wanted to take control over some land in northeastern China, this lead to domestic penalties that were charged against Japan from the United States and Europe. Even though the United States saw Japan as a minor threat because Japan had a few military compared to the United States navy. Japan decided to

attack the US and the US knew it, but still did not attack or declare war on Japan until Japan had

The growing tension between Japan and the west stemmed from a conflict of autonomy and responsibility. Japan saw its actions as part of a national quest for autonomy, self-sufficiency, and European rivalry. The United States and Europe, however, saw Japanese expansion as irresponsible. From their perspective Japanese imperialism violated treaties, which set down the acceptable code of conduct of nations. The United States in particular saw Japanese occupation of East Asian countries as a violation of those countries’ own rights to autonomous leadership and self rule.