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The Pearl Habor attack is important in America History because it brings the US into WWII and centers the attention into the lack of readiness of the US military.
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• In the late 1930's, American foreign policy (Good Neighbor Policy) in the Pacific supported China and aggression against China by Japan. As a result, this brought Japan into conflict with the U.S.
• In July 1941, Japanese occupied all of Indochina and entered into an alliance with the Axis powers (Germany and Italy). Therefore, the U.S severed commercial and financial relations with Japan; an embargo was declared on shipments to Japan of petroleum and other vital war materials. -
• After no clear agreement in negotiations between the U.S and Japan, the Prime Minister of Japan, Tojo Hideki, decided on war.
• Yamamoto Isoroku, Japan's Combined Fleet, planned the attack against the U.S fleet on November 5, 1941.
• On November 26, Vic Adm. Nagumo Chuichi led the fleet: 6 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 11 destroyers. https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx0-oNkqfxqedAEW1GHydNG4V6YbinznzM -
Pearl Harbor Attack - December 7,1941
•https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx3ZhpU_rcZaCxg4uP7xdTWCFV48RsWzKw
•https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxgyKLY-7J7ZTQC21ni8K9yTfPs8rmG5ci -
The sucess of the attack was primary due to the American's false estimate of the enemy's capabilities and intentions.
• 6:45 AM: USS Ward shots fire at Japanese submarine off the coast of Hawaii.
• 6:53 AM: USS Ward reported sinking Japanese submarine, but decoding process delay message.
• 7:02 AM: Radar on Oahu spotted unidentified aircraft heading towards the island. Army Lieutenant disregards radar report.
• 7:40/7:49 AM: Japanese aircraft reaches Oahu. Japanese commander orders attack. -
President Franklin D. Roosvelt declares war on Japan in his speech "The date which will live in infamy."
https://youtu.be/lK8gYGg0dkE
• On Decembre 11, 1941, the Axis power (Italy and Germany) declare war to the U.S. -
• By late spring 1942 the U.S war machine has geared up: factories turn over armaments, aircraft production source, rifle production, and build aircraft carriers.
• U.S Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox announces, "The Japs started this war, we are going to finish it."
• U.S code breakers cracked the Japanese military codes; therefore, gaining crucial new front in modern warfare intelligence gathering. -
• After 4 months of the Pearl Harbor Attack, the U.S. has trained their pilots and modified their aircrafts (B-25) to carry torpedoes and bombs.
• The plan is to transport 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers by aircraft carries and attack the Japanese capital, Tokyo.
• In April 18,1942, at 8:00AM all B-25 Mitchell bombers are launched after the Enterprise carrier located and opened fire to 2 Japanese boats.
• Tokyo is attacked 2 hours later all B-25 Mitchell bombers launched. -
• For 2 days the U.S and Japanese fleets send up aircraft to scout the Coral Sea.
• On May 7, 1942, U.S warplanes locate the Japanese carrier Shoho. Nimitz, U.S commander, sent dive bombers to demolish and finally sunk the Shoho.
• On May 8, 1942, Yamamoto, Japanese commander, strikes back by damaging U.S carrier Lexington and exploiting the Yorktown. -
• The U.S launched an investigation into the attack to determine how a surprise assault was possible.
• Anti-Japanese sentiment arouse; camps on the U.S confided people of Japanese descendants (Fred Korematsu case to the Supreme Court).
• American declaration of war against Japan, which drew the U.S into WWII.
• U.S nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
• Lopotro, Mark. “The Consequences of Pearl Harbor.” Pearl Harbor, May 16, 2021. https://pearlharbor.org/consequences-pearl-harbor/
• President FDR. 1941. “The Day of Infamy,” by War Archives. August 26,2011. Video, 4:47. https://youtu.be/lK8gYGg0dkE
• “Pearl Harbor Attack.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/event/Pearl-Harbor-attack -
• Timeline – World History Documentaries. 2021. “Pearl Harbor: Japan’s Biggest Gamble l WWII in The Pacific I Timeline.” November 4, 2021. Video, 50:06. https://youtu.be/XxilMWYBFDk