Transcript Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor
“a date which will live in infamy”
December 7, 1941
Surprise Attack on the United States

Japanese military launched a surprise attack on U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii.

December 6, 1941 – U.S. intercepted a Japanese message that inquired about ship
movements and berthing positions at Pearl Harbor.

did not act on intelligence

December 7 – An American destroyer spotted a Japanese submarine attempting to
sneak into the harbor that morning. The submarine was fired upon, immediately
reported, and ignored.

December 7 – a radar operator on Oahu saw a large group of airplanes on his screen
heading toward the island

Superior told him that it was probably a group of U.S. B -17 bombers and not to worry
about it.

Japanese attack began at 7:55am

1 hour and 15 minutes

353 Japanese aircraft launched from four heavy carriers

Torpedo planes, level bombers, dive-bombers, fighers

2 heavy crusiers, 35 submarines, 2 light cruisers, nine oilers, 2 battleships, 11
destroyers
Destruction of the U.S. Fleet

destroyed many battleships, cruisers, and airplanes

more than 2,403 soldiers, sailors, and civilians were killed

Fortunately, at the time of the attack, the navy’s three aircraft carriers were
at sea.
Causes

Japan competed with the U.S. for resources in China (Japan invaded Manchuria
and Nanking in the 1930s)

The U.S. had been pressuring Japan to halt its military expansion in Asia and the
Pacific.

From Japan’s perspective, the increasing presence in the Pacific of the United
States had begun to pose a threat to Japan’s own plans for expansion.

U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898

U.S. had taken the Philippines and Guam from Spain in 1899 (Treaty of Paris)
Causes Continued

Japan also seized French-ruled Indochina (Indochine) in Southeast Asia

The United States responded by applying economic pressure:

froze all Japanese funds in U.S. banks.

Stopped the sale of oil, gasoline, and other resources that Japan lacked
Japanese Politics

October 1941 – Japanese Prime Minister Konoye resigned

Konoye wanted to hold talks with the U.S. because he did not believe that Japan
could defeat the U.S. in a war.

General Tojo became the new prime minister and did not share Konoye’s views.

November 20, 1941 – talks began in Washington between the U.S. and the
Japanese

However, Tojo’s government began to set the wheels in motion for the attack.
Roosevelt Asks Congress to Declare War

called December 7th “a date which will live in infamy”

December 11th, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

Congress then declared war on Germany and Italy.
Japanese Internment

After Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were feared and hated by many other
Americans.

About 2/3 of Japanese Americans were American citizens born in the United
States.

Military and political leaders worried about the loyalty of Japanese Americans if
Japanese forces invaded the United States.

Roosevelt directed the army to relocate more than 100,000 Japanese Americans
who were living on the West Coast to detention centers, which were crowded and
uncomfortable.

Japanese Americans had to leave behind homes and businesses.
Axis and Allied Powers

Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, and Japan

Allied Powers – United States, Great Britain, France, China, and the Soviet
Union