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Period: to
Pearl Harbor
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Japanese Continue Invasion
The Japanese continued to invade Asia and signed treaties with Russia in order to be prepared for an attack by Britain and the United States. -
U.S. Continues to Protest Japanese Hostility
The United States and the Netherlands begin to hold Japan's assets, preventing Japan from purchasing the oil needed to fuel their ships and aircrafts. Japan then began to prepare for war and started to plan for a surprise attack on the United States. -
Trade with Japan Ends
The U.S begins to stop trading stell, scrap iron, and fuel with Japan becuase of the Japanese invasion of French Indochina. -
Pearl Harbor
On the calm morning of December 7, 1941 around 8 A.M, the Japanese launched a two wave surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, which is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Picture: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm -
Results
The Japanese had launched the invasion in order to prevent the U.S. from trying to gain control of the Pacific Ocean. While the attack was devastating, the Japanese had aimed at Destroyers and Aircraft, which were no longer the most important ships for naval warfare. The key ships were Aircraft Carriers which were able to launch attacks miles away from the enemy ships. The aircraft carriers were not present at Pearl Harbor during the attack, saving them from the Japanese assault. -
Results
The attack had damaged and/or destroyed eight battleships and 350 airplanes. Over 3,500 Americans were killed and wounded during the attack while the Japanese lost 65 soldiers and had one captured. The Japanese also lost 29 planes. -
U.S Declares War
On the day after Pearl Harbor, Congress approved President Roosevelt's request for war on Japan with only one dissenting opinion. The Dissenting opinion belonged to RepresentativeJeannette Rankin, who said, "As a woman I can;t go to war and I refuse to send anyone else". Three days later, Italy and Germany officially declared war on the U.S. Picture: http://www.history.com/photos/pearl-harbor/photo13 -
War Begins in the Pacific
Japan began to prepare for war by invading the islands of Burma, Malaya, the East Indies, and the Philippines. The U.S then began to attack the Japanese at Manila, but was defeated, resulting in the infamous Bataan Death March. As the war continued, Japan took over Guam and Wake as the U.S. turned its focus to defeating Nazi Germany. -
Significance
The bombing of Pearl Harbor had brought the U.S. enter the war after the U.S. had practiced isolationism for two years. The attack convinced the American people and the government to support the war and also was able to create a large amount of industry, allowing the U.S. to get out of the Great Depression.
