The Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Causes and Consequences of World War II HIST 1301 | History The Attack on Pearl Harbor In an effort to stop Japan's aggressive expansionist plans, the United States imposed a number of economic penalties on the Empire of Japan in the summer of 1941. An embargo on oil and gas deliveries to Japan was the most major of these restrictions, dealing a fatal blow to the island country that primarily relied on imported fuel to power its industrial and military sectors. The embargo was meant to put pressure on Japan to stop acting aggressively, especially in China, where Japanese soldiers had been fighting a bloody war there since 1937. Nevertheless, the embargo had the opposite effect of discouraging Japanese aggression. It supported Japan's strategic choice to explore for resources in the South Pacific, specifically focusing on the abundant natural resources of the European colonies in the area and the Philippines, which is under US authority. Japan believed that the United States lacked the will to make the sacrifices required to win a long war, which affected their choice. Japan prepared a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, in an effort to seize these essential resources and because they thought dealing the United States a serious blow would demoralise the American people and compel a speedy settlement. Meanwhile, Washington and Tokyo were engaged in desperate diplomatic talks, but neither side was willing to budge from its stances. Japan was hesitant to comply with the United States' demands that it leave China and stop expanding militarily. Fearing that time was running out and unconvinced that a peaceful conclusion was possible, Japanese authorities decided that they had to take action against the United States while they still had the upper hand. Japan was unaware that American intelligence had made great strides towards deciphering Japanese codes. By late November 1941, intelligence reports were being sent to American military sites, stating that the Philippines was most likely to be the target of a Japanese invasion and that war with Japan was near. These warnings did not prepare U.S. soldiers in the Pacific for the scope and boldness of the onslaught that would come shortly. A Japanese naval task force successfully avoided discovery by remaining radio silent and conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour early on December 7, 1941. The strike surprised the U.S. Pacific Fleet with its deadly effectiveness. Eight battleships were sunk or seriously damaged in a couple of hours, along with many smaller warships and almost three hundred aircraft that were damaged or destroyed. The human cost was immense: more than two thousand US service members died and more than a thousand were injured. Japanese forces attacked Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines almost simultaneously, displaying a wellthought-out plan to weaken American military might in the Pacific. The American people were inspired by the attack on Pearl Harbour, which also eliminated any remaining isolationist feelings. In his renowned "Day of Infamy" speech to Congress on December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged Congress to declare war on Japan. Congress acted quickly and forcefully, deciding to join the fight by a unanimous vote. The United States entered World War II with all of its might, having previously been a hesitant player in international affairs. The Axis allies of Japan, Germany and Italy, soon after declared war on the United States, forcing the latter to intervene in the European theatre, thereby broadening the scope of the conflict. After the attack on Pearl Harbour, China, which had been subjected to Japanese aggression for years, allied with the Allies; nevertheless, it concentrated its efforts on the Asian front rather than European wars. The difficult task of waging a war on two fronts across huge oceans lay ahead of the United States. Military strategists calculated that up to nine million soldiers spread over more than 200 divisions may be needed to win in both Europe and Asia. The U.S. military, which at the time was very tiny and unprepared for such a major international fight, had to be greatly expanded as a result of this. The US launched a massive recruiting and conscription programme to quickly grow the army and get it ready for numerous fronts of war in order to fulfil these unprecedented demands. African Americans, women, Native Americans, and even thirty-three thousand Japanese Americans were recruited, despite the latter group's delicate status in American culture as a result of pervasive mistrust and discrimination in the wake of the Pearl Harbour assault. The country was mobilised by the war effort, which also changed American society and the economy. This large and expanding armed force was led by competent generals, Dwight D. Eisenhower foremost among them. Eisenhower, who rose quickly through the ranks as a result of his leadership abilities and strategic insight, was instrumental in helping U.S. Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall. Eisenhower was named commanding general of the European theatre of operations as the war went on, and he was instrumental in organising and carrying out crucial actions, such as the D-Day invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The coordination of the Allied troops under Eisenhower's command was crucial to the eventual liberation of Europe from Nazi rule. A lengthy and cruel war that would span many continents and involve millions of soldiers and civilians was started in motion by the attack on Pearl Harbour and the United States' subsequent entrance into World War II. These events marked a turning point in the battle. The war would put American industry, inventiveness, and resolve to the test, resulting in significant changes to the global order and creating the foundation for the post-war world. Future generations would look back on the sacrifices and labours of those who served as a pivotal moment in American history.