Pearl Harbor Raid 7 December 1941. The 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most defining moments in American history

Pearl Harbor RaidPearl Harbor Raid

7 December 19417 December 1941

The 7 December 1941 The 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Japanese attack on

Pearl Harbor was one of Pearl Harbor was one of the most defining the most defining

moments in American moments in American historyhistory

Why?Why?

Carefully-planned & well-Carefully-planned & well-executed attack removed executed attack removed the U.S. Navy’s battleship the U.S. Navy’s battleship force as a battleship force force as a battleship force as a possible threat to the as a possible threat to the

Japanese Empire’s Japanese Empire’s southward expansionsouthward expansion

Attack at Pearl HarborAttack at Pearl Harbor

►America was unprepared & America was unprepared & considerably weakenedconsiderably weakened

►Attack caused the U.S. to Attack caused the U.S. to formally enter WWIIformally enter WWII

►Memory of “sneak attack” Memory of “sneak attack” fueled a U.S. determination to fueled a U.S. determination to fightfight


►U.S. Naval fleet in the Pacific U.S. Naval fleet in the Pacific was anchored at Pearl Harbor, was anchored at Pearl Harbor, HawaiiHawaii


►On Sunday morning, On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, while most December 7, 1941, while most American sailors were still American sailors were still asleep in their bunks, Japanese asleep in their bunks, Japanese planes from aircraft carriers planes from aircraft carriers flew over Pearl Harborflew over Pearl Harbor


►Planes and submarines of the Planes and submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy began Imperial Japanese Navy began a surprise attack on the U.S. a surprise attack on the U.S. under the Command of Vice under the Command of Vice Admiral Admiral ChuichiChuichi


►Japanese planes from aircraft Japanese planes from aircraft carriers flew over Pearl Harbor carriers flew over Pearl Harbor bombing every ship in sightbombing every ship in sight


►Lasted less than 2 hoursLasted less than 2 hours►2,403 Americans were killed 2,403 Americans were killed

(including over 1,100 when the (including over 1,100 when the battleship Arizona sank)battleship Arizona sank)

►68 civilians were killed68 civilians were killed►Almost 1,200 were woundedAlmost 1,200 were wounded►Approximately 150 airplanes were Approximately 150 airplanes were

destroyeddestroyed


►20 warships were sunk20 warships were sunk►Approximately 150 airplanes Approximately 150 airplanes

were destroyedwere destroyed

Partial SurprisePartial Surprise

►American people were stunned American people were stunned by the attack on Pearl Harborby the attack on Pearl Harbor

►High government officials, High government officials, however, knew that an attack however, knew that an attack somewhere in the Pacific was somewhere in the Pacific was imminent because they had imminent because they had broken the Japanese codesbroken the Japanese codes


►Government officials did not Government officials did not know the exact target & date know the exact target & date for the attackfor the attack

►Many believed the attack Many believed the attack would be in the Philippines, the would be in the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, or MalayaDutch East Indies, or Malaya


►Attack might have been no Attack might have been no surprise as vital intelligence surprise as vital intelligence information was not passed to information was not passed to the Navy commander Admiral the Navy commander Admiral KimmelKimmel

Disputes With JapanDisputes With Japan

►By 1940 U.S. relations with By 1940 U.S. relations with Japan were becoming Japan were becoming increasingly strainedincreasingly strained

►Reason: Japan’s invasion of Reason: Japan’s invasion of China & territorial ambitions to China & territorial ambitions to extend its conquests to extend its conquests to Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia


►Beginning in 1940, Japan was Beginning in 1940, Japan was allied with Germany & Italy as allied with Germany & Italy as one of the Axis powersone of the Axis powers


►Hitler’s success in Europe Hitler’s success in Europe provided an opportunity for provided an opportunity for Japanese expansion into the Japanese expansion into the Southeast Asia (British Burma, Southeast Asia (British Burma, French Indochina)French Indochina)

►Territories held as colonies by Territories held as colonies by European nationsEuropean nations


►European nations were too European nations were too preoccupied with stopping preoccupied with stopping Hitler’s expansion in EuropeHitler’s expansion in Europe

U.S. Economic ActionU.S. Economic Action

►When Japan joined the Axis in When Japan joined the Axis in September 1940, FDR September 1940, FDR responded by responded by prohibiting the prohibiting the export of steel and scrap export of steel and scrap ironiron to all countries except to all countries except Britain and nations of the Britain and nations of the Western HemisphereWestern Hemisphere


►His action was aimed at Japan His action was aimed at Japan which protested that it was an which protested that it was an “unfriendly act”“unfriendly act”


►In July 1941, Japanese troops In July 1941, Japanese troops occupied French Indochinaoccupied French Indochina

►FDR cut off Japanese access to FDR cut off Japanese access to vital materials, including U.S. vital materials, including U.S. oil (trade embargo)oil (trade embargo)

NegotiationsNegotiations

►Both sides (U.S. & Japan) realized Both sides (U.S. & Japan) realized that Japan needed oil to fuel its that Japan needed oil to fuel its navy & air forcenavy & air force

►If the U.S. embargo on oil did not If the U.S. embargo on oil did not end, Japan would be forced to end, Japan would be forced to extend its conquests by taking oil extend its conquests by taking oil resources in the Dutch East Indiesresources in the Dutch East Indies


►Secretary of State Hull insisted Secretary of State Hull insisted that Japan pull its troops out of that Japan pull its troops out of China, which Japan refused to China, which Japan refused to dodo

►Violation of Open Door policyViolation of Open Door policy


►Japanese ambassador to the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. tried to negotiate a U.S. tried to negotiate a change in U.S. policy regarding change in U.S. policy regarding oiloil

►Agreement seemed unlikelyAgreement seemed unlikely


►In October, a new Japanese In October, a new Japanese government headed by government headed by General Hideki TojoGeneral Hideki Tojo made a made a final attempt at negotiating an final attempt at negotiating an agreementagreement

►Neither side changed its Neither side changed its positionposition


►FDR’s military advisers hoped FDR’s military advisers hoped that an armed confrontation that an armed confrontation with Japan could be delayed with Japan could be delayed until U.S. armed forces in the until U.S. armed forces in the Pacific were sufficiently strongPacific were sufficiently strong


►Japan believed that quick Japan believed that quick action was necessary due to its action was necessary due to its limited oil supplieslimited oil supplies

Why did Japan Attacked Why did Japan Attacked America?America?

►Japan was trying to become Japan was trying to become the dominant power in East the dominant power in East Asia and the PacificAsia and the Pacific

►They had invaded China in They had invaded China in 1933 & were preparing to 1933 & were preparing to conquer Indochina, Malaysia & conquer Indochina, Malaysia & the Pacific Islandsthe Pacific Islands


►They wanted to control these They wanted to control these territories so they could use territories so they could use the badly needed oil raw the badly needed oil raw materials in them for their own materials in them for their own industriesindustries

Why did Japan Attacked Why did Japan Attacked AmericaAmerica

►U.S. had been growing steadily U.S. had been growing steadily more opposed to the Japanese more opposed to the Japanese expansionexpansion

►Japan knew if they attacked Japan knew if they attacked those other countries the U.S. those other countries the U.S. might go to war to stop themmight go to war to stop them


►Japan decided to attack us firstJapan decided to attack us first►They hoped they could cripple us They hoped they could cripple us

so we could not oppose them while so we could not oppose them while they grabbed as much territory as they grabbed as much territory as they could they could

►Once they had the territory, they Once they had the territory, they hoped America would make peace hoped America would make peace with them & let them keep itwith them & let them keep it

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Pearl Harbor Raid 7 December 1941. The 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most defining moments in American history