The Truth about Pearl Harbor The surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor was the entire reason for the United States' entrance into World War II. Many elements play into this event. For instance, the Japanese chose this site for several reasons. In addition, there are various theories that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was made aware of this attack, yet allowed it to occur. Known as "The Day of Infamy ", the bombing is taught in our history classes for an infinity of years to come. How did we react at the time? What did Washington do to prevent this? Why Pearl Harbor anyway? The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a desperate FDR's backdoor into the Second World War. December 7, 1941 dawned bright, clear and beautiful over Pearl Harbor. In fact, according to Deborah Bacharach's book, "Pearl Harbor", Fleet Chaplain William A. Maguire noted approvingly from abroad the Arizona that this day "was a day for the tourists" (Bachrach 8). However, two hundred and thirty miles to the northwest of Pearl Harbor activity of a different nature was taking place. "Japanese pilots had already donned their warrior ceremonial dress, with their fresh loincloths, good luck belly bands and freshly pressed red shirts to show a warrior's disdain for blood. They had eaten their ceremonial meals. They were ready for attack" (Prange 21). According to William Shapiro's book, at about the same time, off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands, abroad the destroyer U.S.S. Ward, Lieutenant William W. Outerbridge noticed a mysterious object in the water. He ordered his crew to fire at it. The ship's guns sank a midget Japanese submarine lurking in the water. Outerbridge sent a report of his sighting the fleet. There was a delay in decoding Outerbridge's m... ... middle of paper ... ...did he want us to enter the war so bad? Whatever the reason may have been, it entered us into one of the most historical and gruesome wars ever. Bibliography: Works Cited Bachrach, Deborah. Pearl Harbor. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 1989. Hoeling, A. A. December 7, 1941: The Day the Admirals Slept Late. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp, 1963. Kaplan, Morton A. "Why Roosevelt Wanted Japan to Attack Pearl Harbor." The World & I. Ed. Morton Kaplan. 1 vol. Chicago: Bantam, 2000. Morganstern, George. Pearl Harbor the Story of the Secret War. New York: The Devin-Adair Company, 1947. Prange, Gordon W. At Dawn, We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1981. Shapiro, William. Pearl Harbor: Turning Points of World War II. New York: Franklin Watts, 1984.
Prior to the dispatch of September 24, the information which the Japanese sought and obtained about Pearl Harbor followed the general pattern of their interest in American Fleet movements in other localities. One might suspect this type of conventional espionage. With the dispatch of September 24, 1941, and those which followed, there was a significant and ominous change in the character of the information which the Japanese Government sought and obtained. The espionage then directed was of an unusual character outside the realm of reasonable suspicion. It was no longer merely directed to ascertaining the general whereabouts of ships of the fleet. It was directed to the presence of particular ships in particular areas; to such minute detail as what ships were double-docked at the same wharf….These Japanese instructions and reports pointed to an attack by Japan upon the ships in Pearl Harbor. The information sought and obtained, with such painstaking detail had no other conceivable usefulness from a military
It was July 30th around 11:30 at night. Hashimoto, the captain of the I-58 Japanese submarine climbed up on the bridge. He picked up binoculars. Hashimoto saw a ship because the moon was behind it and gave the order to dive. Hashimoto was very concerned that it was a destroyer ship coming to attack the submarine. Hashimoto could not get a good look at the Indianapolis because it was not zigzagging.
Trefousse, Hans L. What Happened at Pearl Harbor? Documents Pertaining to the Japanese Attack of December 7, 1941, and Its Background. New York: Twayne, 1958. Print.
The movie Pearl Harbor was written based on the historic event that occurred in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The movie has many inaccurate events that are misleading but overall the movie does a good job telling the historic event that occurred.
In conclusion, the attack of Japan on the United States, Pearl Harbor, led to great property destruction and even loss of lives. Japan had earlier on deceived the United States of the peace negations. Japanese Ambassadors later termed the negotiation as useless, making them attack the United States. The unexpected attack led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ask the Congress to declare war on Japan.
First, Pearl Harbor is a day to remember for us as Americans today; but in the past, Americans used the remembrance of Pearl Harbor to pump them up and want to defeat the Japanese. The Americans wanted to defeat Japan, so badly since their attacks on Pearl Harbor occurred even before war was declared. “Pearl Harbor was a huge success for the Japanese, but the ‘sneak’ attack made Americans determined for revenge”(Granton). It is still a mystery what would happen if we didn’t drop the bombs, either way a war was going to be fought. These bombs may have killed thousands, but World War II and the Japanese took the lives of millions.
The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious events that happened in U.S. history. On December 7, 1941, Japan made a surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base and airfields at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More than two thousand Americans died and a thousand two hundred were wounded. Eighteen ships were badly damaged, including five battleships. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt with the support of the Congress, declared war on Japan. It led United States’ official involvement in World War II. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of a deteriorating relationship with the U. S. The “New World Order”, expansion and resources, and economic sanctions were factors that conducted to another disaster on the Second World War.
The United States of America has experienced many tragic events in its history. The attack on pearl harbor and the terrorist attack on September 1, 2001 happen to be the most significant. These both tragic events affected the lives of many. These both events had a quite both different and same presidential response. These historical events changed the way people would live in everyday life for a while. Both of these tragedies made history and will never be forgotten and all of those innocent lives that were taken away on December 7th, 1941 and September 11, 2001.
“It was very apparent to everyone who had carefully followed the course of events that we would sooner or later have to meet the threat to civilization which these aggressor nations were presenting to the world…and that we would ultimately be left to face the onslaught alone…” are words from then Secretary of War Henry Stimson. America knew she was headed for war, her people though, not directly feeling the effects of the conflicts going on half a world away would not support the loss of American lives for a foreign war. The government knew about the planned attacks on Pearl Harbor, kept the information from the military leaders that needed it the most, and used the tragedy to rally the nation toward war.
Blair Jr., Clay, (1975). Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, p. 78. p. 1072. Buell, Thomas B. -. (1987)
In World War II their were a lot of battles. There were a lot of city’s bombed. How would you feel if you were in World War II ? I would be running from the Japanese and the Natiz . Also I would probably die or hide in a road gutter . The question is what would you do if you were in World War II ?
At almost eight o’clock in the morning in the island of Oahu, Hawaii the day of Infamy began. December 7th, 1941 was one of the most devastating attacks on American soil. The day of Infamy, or more commonly known as Pearl Harbor, was an attack on American soil from the Imperial Army. This attack was the final burst of the tension that had been built up between the United States and Japan. To understand the tragic attack it is important to understand the events leading up to it. The United States unrest with Japan started in 1937 through the invasion of Manchuria which began the Second Sino-Japanese War. Japan launched a full scale invasion of the Republic of China. The tension between Franklin D Roosevelt and Japan was initiated with
On December 7, 1941 twenty American naval vessels were destroyed, 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died, and about 1,000 were injured. This event would forever be known as Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was an incident in American history where the Japanese bombed a naval base in Oahu, Hawaii. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because they feared the United States would plan a naval attack on them due to their new acquired territories such as: Philippines, Guam, America Samoa and other small islands. The Japanese thought they could do a swift first strike against the united pacific fleet and cripple America’s ability to respond. By delaying America’s ability to respond they were hoping to gain the territories and control most of the Pacific Rim.
It is very tempting as human beings to put blame on someone else. Especially during a time of tragedy. Besides the attack of 9/11, Pearl Harbor is one of the most surprising attacks the United States of America has ever faced. The attack on December seventh, 1941 is what brought America into World War Two. The nation proceeded to declare war on Japan. Then, because of the alliance between Germany and Japan, Germany declared war on the U.S. At the time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was president. From the beginning of his presidency and the start of the war, he had wanted to get involved with the war. Historians have debated for many years who is at fault for the attack on Pearl Harbor and causing the deaths of two thousand Americans. He believed that without the United States aid, Russia and England would collapse, and the United States government had broken a diplomatic code and intercepted a message from Japan threatening war. Roosevelt missed many opportunities to prevent the bombing. This bomb attack brought our nation into war and caused the deaths of over a thousand American citizens.
Gordon W. Prange, At Dawn We Slept - The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor. 1991 (Penguin Books, New York, NY 1981, 1982, 1991),725-738.