Can the Us Be Surprise Attxked Again
Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base of operations near Honolulu, Hawaii, that was the scene of a devastating surprise assail past Japanese forces on Dec vii, 1941. Only before 8 a.m. on that Lord's day forenoon, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base, where they managed to destroy or damage most 20 American naval vessels, including viii battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the set on, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day later on the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Nihon.
Nippon and the Path to State of war
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise, but Japan and the United States had been edging toward war for decades.
The Usa was particularly unhappy with Nippon'southward increasingly argumentative attitude toward Red china. The Japanese government believed that the simply way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to aggrandize into its neighbor'due south territory and have over its import market.
To this end, Nihon alleged war on China in 1937, resulting in the Nanking Massacre and other atrocities.
American officials responded to this aggression with a battery of economic sanctions and merchandise embargoes. They reasoned that without access to money and appurtenances, and especially essential supplies similar oil, Japan would accept to rein in its expansionism.
Instead, the sanctions fabricated the Japanese more adamant to stand their ground. During months of negotiations betwixt Tokyo and Washington, D.C., neither side would budge. It seemed that state of war was all but inevitable.
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Where Is Pearl Harbor?
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is located near the eye of the Pacific Ocean, roughly ii,000 miles from the U.S. mainland and near 4,000 miles from Nihon. No ane believed that the Japanese would first a war with an attack on the distant islands of Hawaii.
Additionally, American intelligence officials were confident that whatever Japanese set on would take place in ane of the (relatively) nearby European colonies in the S Pacific: the Dutch East Indies, Singapore or Indochina.
Because American military leaders were non expecting an attack so close to home, the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor were relatively undefended. Almost the unabridged Pacific Armada was moored around Ford Island in the harbor, and hundreds of airplanes were squeezed onto adjacent airfields.
To the Japanese, Pearl Harbor was an irresistibly like shooting fish in a barrel target.
USS Arizona
The Japanese plan was simple: Destroy the Pacific Fleet. That fashion, the Americans would not be able to fight back every bit Nippon's war machine spread across the Southward Pacific. On December 7, after months of planning and practise, the Japanese launched their attack.
At about 8 a.chiliad., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels moored below. At eight:10, a ane,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition mag. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside.
Adjacent, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater.
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Less than two hours after, the surprise attack was over, and every battleship in Pearl Harbor—USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada—had sustained pregnant harm. (All but USS Arizona and USS Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.)
Impact of the Pearl Harbor Attack
In all, the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor crippled or destroyed virtually 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes. Dry out docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. Most important, 2,403 sailors, soldiers and civilians were killed and about 1,000 people were wounded.
But the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most of import naval vessel: Shipping carriers were, and every bit it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet'south carriers were away from the base of operations on December seven. (Some had returned to the mainland and others were delivering planes to troops on Midway and Wake Islands.)
Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the base's nigh vital onshore facilities—oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks—intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the assail.
'A Date Which Will Live in Infamy'
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of the U.Due south. Congress on Dec 8, the day after the crushing assault on Pearl Harbor.
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will alive in infamy—the United states of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Nippon."
He went on to say, "No matter how long it may take united states of america to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to accented victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not simply defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very sure that this form of treachery shall never endanger u.s.a. again."
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America Enters World War Two
After the Pearl Harbor attack, and for the start fourth dimension during years of discussion and contend, the American people were united in their determination to go to state of war.
The Japanese had wanted to goad the Usa into an agreement to elevator the economic sanctions confronting them; instead, they had pushed their adversary into a global conflict that ultimately resulted in Japan'south first occupation by a foreign ability.
On December 8, Congress canonical Roosevelt's declaration of war on Japan. Iii days later, Japan's allies Germany and Italian republic declared war against the United States.
For the 2nd fourth dimension, Congress reciprocated, declaring war on the European powers. More than 2 years after the start of World State of war II, the The states had entered the conflict.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor